PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


% 


Presented  by  Mr.  Samuel  Agnew  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


BV  133  .N48  1862 
New  York  Sabbath  Committee. 
First  five  years  of  the 
Sabbath  reform  1857-62 


\\ 


yW>v/'4-Kk 


Ne.w  ScMobinthCo. 

FIRST   FIVE    YEARS 


SABBATH    EEFOEM, 


1857-62. 


Srocntii  Doruntcnts 

OF 

THE  MM  YORK  SABBATH  COMMITTEE. 


NEW    YOKK: 

EDWARD   O.    JENKINS,    PRINTER, 

20   NORTH   WILLIAM    STREET. 

1862. 


CONTENTS. 


First  Five  Years  of  the  Sabbath  Reform. 

DOCUMENTS. 

No.  1.  The  Sabbath  as  it  Was  and  as  it  Is. 

2.  Railroads  and  the  Sabbath. 

3.  News-Ckying  and  the  Sabbath. 

4.  The  Sabbath  in  Europe. 

5.  The  Sunday  Liquor-Traffic. 

6.  A  Year  for  the  Sabbath. — (First  Annual  Report.) 

7.  Memorial  Memoranda. 

8.  Petition. — German  Document. 

9.  First  German  Meeting  at  Cooper  Institute. 

10.  The  Broderic  Sunday  Pageant. 

11.  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer-Gardens. 

12.  Progress  of  Sabbath  Reform. 

13.  The  Press  of  New  York  on  Sunday  Theatre  Law. 

14.  Sunday  at  Central  Park. 

15.  The  Civil  Sabbath  Restored. 

16.  Second  German  Meeting  at  Cooper  Institute. 

17.  The  Sabbath  in  War. 

18.  Constitutional  Basis  of  Sunday  Laws. 

19.  Plea  for  the  Sabbath  in  War. 

20.  The  Sabb.vth  and  the  Pulpit. 


OCCASIONAL  PAPERS. 


No.  1.  The  City  Press  and  Sunday  News-Crying. 
*  2.  The  Sabbath  and  German  Beer  Gardens. 
^  3.  Sunday  Vice  and  Crime. 

4.  Defeat  of  the  Anti-Sunday  Law  Movement, 


First  Five  Years  of  the  Sabbath  Reform. 


Letters  from  associations  and  individuals  in  London,  Boston,  San 
Francisco  and  elsewhere,  solicit  more  full  information  than  has 
been  given  to  the  public  as  to  the  methods  and  results  of  the  Sab- 
bath Reform.  These  requests,  and  the  fact  of  numerous  concerted 
movements  in  Europe  and  America  in  the  same  direction,  have 
prompted  the  preparation  of  this  sketch  of  the  New  York  Committee's 
five  years'  labors  in  behalf  of  the  Sabbath.  It  does  not  assume  to 
be  a  guide  for  defenders  of  the  Sabbath  in  other  communities  and 
other  lands ;  but,  as  a  brief  record  of  successful  dealing  with  a  diffi- 
cult question,  it  may  furnish  not  altogether  valueless  way-marks  of 
Christian  reform. 

THE   ORGANIZATION. 

The  fact  and  the  form  of  the  organization  had  mature  consideration. 
Thoughtful  men  Avere  alarmed  at  the  rapid  drift  toward  popular 
neglect  or  profanation  of  the  sacred  day.  The  city  had  assumed 
the  proportions  of  a  great  metropolis,  attracting  vast  nxxmbers 
of  European  immigrants,  and  outstripping  in  its  expansion  the 
proportionate  means  of  moral  and  religious  culture.  Demoralizing 
influences  had  fearfully  multiplied,  with  no  adequate  counteraction  or 
restraint.  Public  sentiment  had  been  corrupted  or  perverted  by  a 
vicious  press  and  party  intrigue.  The  machinery  of  government 
had  largely  passed  into  the  control  of  the  classes  contributing  least 
to  its  support,  and  most  interested  in  staying  the  administration  of 
justice.  Law  had  lost  its  wonted  supremacy,  and  our  self-govei'ning 
institutions  were  fast  losing  their  prestige  and  power.  Material  in- 
terests overshadowed  and  supplanted  the  moral  and  spiritual.  The 
Sabbath  became  in  many  quarters,  and  among  large  classes  of  the 
city,  the  gala-day  of  the  godless;  the  harvest-day  of  avarice;  the 
high-day  of  vice  and  crime.  It  seemed  a  hopeless  undertaking  to 
rescue  it  from  even  the  grossest  abuses  of  its  civil  rights. 

But  there  were  those  who  had  sufficiently  studied  the  history  and 
relations  of  the  Sabbath  to  cherish  and  act  on  the  conviction,  that 
its  loss   would  involve   not   only  irreparable   injury  to   all  moral 


and  religious  interests,  but  the  inevitaljle  sacrifice  of  our  civil  and 
social  institutions.  Tliey  had,  indeed,  to  face  the  discouragements 
just  alluded  to,  and  the  further  circumstance  that  the  repeated 
efforts  to  avert  this  and  kindred  evils,  spasmodic  and  ill-judged  as 
many  of  theni  were,  had  failed  of  their  object,  and  only  aggravated 
the  disea.se  they  were  meant  to  cure.  This  fact,  however,  rightly 
considered,  was  suited  to  inspire  caution,  energy  and  prayer.  After 
years  of  reflection  and  consultation,  a  meeting  of  leading  Christian 
citizens  was  convened,  April  1,  1857,  i')ursuant  to  the  accompany- 
ing call  ;*  the  subject  was  discussed ;  and  a  "  Cojimittee  to  pro- 
mote the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath "  was  ap})oiiited,  con- 
sisting of  about  twenty  members,  connected  with  eight  diflerent 
Christian  denominations. 

The  form  of  the  organization  has  many  practical  advantages.  It  is 
simple,  compact,  and  unostentatious.  Without  the  prestige  of 
numbers,  and  so  without  its  embarrassments,  it  has  none  of  the 
temptations  of  a  "society"  to  imdertake  extreme  and  impracticable 
measures,  regardless  of  that  general  })ublic  sentiment  on  which, 
linder  Providence,  the  power  and  success  of  all  stable  reforms  must 
ultimately  rest.  So  long  as  a  "committee"  conduct  their  enterprises 
in  a  spirit  and  on  principles  suited  to  enlist  the  confidence  of  all 
right-minded  citizens,  and  with  the  manifest  aim  to  promote  the 
public  welfare,  the  very  paucity  of  numbers  becomes  an  element  of 
strength ;  for  every  good  man  may  see  that  while  a  cause  he 
approves  is  fitly  championed,  yet  he,  and  all  like  him,  must  personally 
enter  the  ranks  as  the  exigencies  of  the  conflict  demand  his  service- 
The  Press,  too,  comes  to  lend  a  willing  support  to  a  just  and  im- 
portant interest,  when  it  has  no  "  organ  "  to  advocate  questionable 

New  York,  Marcu  28,  1857. 
*  Deau  Sir:— Unless  measures  are  taken  to  stop  the  progress  of  Sabbath  deseeratiou 
in  our  city,  there  is  danger  that  this  sacred  day  will  soon  be,  in  a  great  degree,  lost  to 
us.     It  has  been  thought  advisable  to  ask  a  few  gentlemen  to  meet,  witli  the  view  of 
considering  what  means  shall  be  adopted  to  arrest  this  growing  evil. 

You  are  earnestly  requested  to  attend  a  meeting  for  this  purpose,  at  the  Lecture 
Room  of  Dr.  Alexander's  Church,  in  19th  Street,  near  5th  Avenue,  on  Wednesday 
evening,  April  1st. 

Horace  IIoldex,  S.  W.  ScniEFFELix,       A.  R.  Walsh,  E.  M.  Kinosley, 

A.  R.  Wet.more,  A.  G.  Phelps,  David  Hoadley,  .].  M.  IIalsted, 

C.  R.  Robert,  F.  G.  Foster,  F.  S.  Winston,  .Tohn  L.  Mason, 

C.  N.  Talbot,  Francis  Hall,  Wm.  II.  Smith,  Norman  White, 

Robert  L.  Stuart,      J.  M.  Morrison,  Jasper  Corning,  Oliver  Wood, 

Wm.  a.  I'ooTH,  C.  0.  IIalsteh,  L.  Kirbt,  .Tames  Slivdam, 

Henry  Yoiino,  Wm.  E.  Dudgb,  R.  F.  I^ttler,  Rorkut  Carter, 

Geo.  I).  Phelps,  William  Walker,      A.  ]'.  IIalsey,  C.  I'.  Kirkland, 

T.  C.  DoRKMi's,  Wm.  Winterton,         W.  C.  (jIilman,  Oliver  H.  Lee. 

John  II.  Karle,  J.  B.  Suefi-ield, 


or  exclusive    theories,  and  no  aims  beyond  the  well-being  of  the 
great  community  for  whose  benefit  both  profess  to  labor. 

The  /(/y-feature  of  the  Committee  Avas  adopted  and  has  been  per- 
petuated for  obvious  reasons.  The  primary  objects  of  the  movement 
having  respect  to  the  invasions  of  the  civil  Sabbath,  civiUans  seemed 
best  suited  to  promote  them.  The  single  fact  that  active  business- 
men turn  aside  from  their  pressing  avocations  and  devote  time  and 
influence  and  wealth  to  the  suppression  of  offences  so  glaring  as  to 
require  the  intervention  of  the  magistracy,  of  itself  tends  to  disen- 
tangle the  Sabbath  Question  from  its  chief  embarrassment,  and  to 
define  its  civil  relations  as  distinguished  from  its  religious  obligations 
so  clearly  as  to  baflfle  the  unscrupulous  enemies  and  invaders  of  both 
its  civil  and  sacred  sanctions.  And  we  have  yet  to  learn  that  any 
of  our  honored  and  hard-working  pastors  undervalue  or  would  dis- 
courage the  active  cooperation  of  prudent  laymen  in  this  and  kindred 
Christian  enterprises  "too  heavy"  for  their  own  over-burdened 
hands.  Rather  Avould  they  adopt  the  prayer  of  Closes :  "  Would 
God  all  the  Lord's  people  were  prophets  ! "  It  is  quite  certain  that 
the  manifold  relations  of  this  enterprise  to  civil  authorities,  legis- 
lative, judicial  and  executive,  as  well  as  to  the  general  public,  have 
been  freed  from  complication  and  prejudice  by  the  fact  that  its  in- 
terests were  directed  by  Christian  citizens  chosen  from  secular 
callings. 

INVESTIG-ATION. 
The  first  step  taken  by  the  Committee  was  a  reconnoissance.  The 
mere  general  fact  of  neglected  or  abused  Sabbaths  seemed  an  in- 
adequate basis  for  reformatory  action.  A  census  of  Sunday  traffic, 
developed  the  fact  that  nearly  ten  thousand  (9,692)  places  of  business 
including  more  than  five  thousand  dram-shops  (5,385,)  were  open  to 
the  public.  Places  of  public  amusement  were  personally  inspected 
by  members  of  the  Committee — sometimes  at  the  peril  of  life — at 
which  thousands  of  men,  women  and  children  were  gathered  on  the 
Lord's  day  for  purposes  of  diversion,  dissipation  and  sin.  Let 
it  suffice,  without  repeating  the  revelations  in  "  The  Sabbath  as  it 
was  and  as  it  is  "  (No.  I.)  and  in  other  documents  of  the  Committee, 
that  the  more  thorough  and  extended  the  inquiry,  the  deeper  and 
more  painful  became  the  conviction  of  the  prevalent  and  formidable 
character  of  the  evils  to  be  encountered.  They  had  existed  so  long 
almost  without  rebuke ;  they  were  so  intrenched  in  the  avarice  of 
some  classes  and  in  the  love  of  sensual  pleasure  in  others  ;  they  were 
so  strengthened  by  Old  World  training  and  prejudices,  and  were 
pandered  to  so  industriously  by  the  German  and  Enghsh  Sunday 


Press ;  and  ignorance  or  indifference  as  to  their  nature  and  extent 
were  so  profound  on  the  part  of  the  Sabbath-keeping  community, 
that  exposure  and  reformation  seemed  to  border  on  tlie  chimerical  if 
not  the  impossible. 

It  may  be  added,  as  illustrating  the  position  of  things  five  years 
ago,  that  laws  j^rotecting  the  Sabbath  had  been,  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  at  least,  practically  obsolete  ;  that  the  police  department 
was  in  a  chaotic  state — in  the  change  from  the  Municipal  to  the 
Metropolitan  regime ;  that  the  judicial  and  municipal  officers  were 
largely  the  candidates  of  the  Sunday  liquor  interest ;  and  that  the 
commercial  crisis  of  '57  came  upon  the  city  like  a  tempest  the  very 
month  of  the  completed  organization  for  this  movement.  And  it 
will  thus  be  seen  that  few  enterprises  could  encounter  more  dis- 
heartening circumstances,  or  more  demand  faith,  prudence  and  zeal 
on  the  part  of  their  managers. 

MODES  OF  ACTION. 

The  grand  aim  of  the  Reform  being  to  correct  and  arouse  public 
sentiment  as  to  the  claims  and  perils  of  the  Sabbath,  the  three 
principal  agencies  for  this  purpose — the  Pulpit,  the  Press  and  Per- 
sonal influence — have  been  enlisted  in  such  measure  as  seemed  best 
calculated  to  secure  the  desired  result. 

The  incipient  plans  of  the  Committee  were  laid  before  a  meeting 
of  more  than  one  hundred  of  the  Clergy  of  the  city,  and  received 
their  unanimous  sanction  in  a  series  of  Resolutions  that  will  live  in 
the  literature  of  the  Sabbath  while  Sabbaths  last.  Not  far  from  one 
hundred  sermons  on  the  subject  were  simultaneously  preached,  soon 
after,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Committee.  Recently,  a  series  of  ser- 
mons by  Pastors  of  six  denominations,  before  thronged  assemblies, 
has  tended  to  deepen  the  convictionof  the  authority  and  value  of  the 
Sabbath  and  of  the  importance  of  measures  for  its  sanctification. 
And  throughout  the  reform,  the  counsel  and  cooperation  of  the  minis- 
try have  been  cordially  given  and  most  highly  prized. 

But,  valuable  as  has  been  the  aid  of  the  Pulpit,  the  cooperation  of 
the  Press  has  been  invaluable  in  effecting  the  revolution  in  general 
])ublic  sentiment  which  laid  the  foundation  for  successful  practical 
reforms.  There  was  a  manifest  propriety  in  the  discussion  of  qiies- 
tions  of  ])ul)]ic  order  and  morality  as  related  to  the  invasion  of  the 
national  day  of  rest  and  worship  by  journals  whose  columns  are 
pledged  to  truth  and  virtue.  Without  fee  or  reward,  other  than  the 
approbation  of  a  good  conscience  and  the  plaudits  of  their  readers, 
the  leading  daily  newspapers  of  the  city  have  advocated  and  defend- 
ed all  the  prominent  measures  inaugurated  by  the  Committee  with 


an  ability  and  good  temper  that  carried  conviction  to  tlie  public 
mind,  and  Avith  such  unity  as  paralyzed  interested  and  factious 
opposition.  Every  attempt  of  the  enemies  of  the  Sabbath  to  com- 
plicate the  Sabbath  question  with  party  politics — and  many  have 
been  made — has  been  rebuked  by  the  honest  press  of  all  parties. 
Besides  the  intrinsic  value  of  this  cooperation,  it  more  than  neutral- 
ised the  persistent  and  shameless  opposition  of  the  Sunday  Press 
and  its  allies.  More  than  once  it  silenced  the  atheism  and  licentious- 
ness of  the  German  Press.  The  Weekly  Religious  Press,  it  scarcely 
need  be  said,  has  lent  an  almost  unanimous  and  most  cordial  support 
to  this  movement.  In  reviewing  the  whole  course  of  the  Sabbath 
Reform,  it  is  obvious  that  its  manifold  successes  and  its  present 
vantage-ground  are  intimately  related  to  the  fact  tha|;  nearly  one 
hundred  millions  of  copies  of  New  York  newspapers  have  borne  to 
their  readers  articles  friendly  to  the  restoration  and  conservation  of 
our  civil  Sabbath. 

The  official  communications  of  the  Committee  have  been  confined 
to  their  series  of  "i>oc«?«-en<s."  Facts  and  arguments  have  been 
embodied  relating  to  the  particular  measure  in  hand,  addressed  to 
the  reason  and  conscience  of  thoughtful  citizens — studiously  avoid- 
ing api^eals  to  passion  or  prejudice,  and  leaving  to  their  proper  realm 
those  disputed  questions  of  ethics  and  theology  about  which  there 
may  be  honest  differences  of  opinion.  A  monopoly  of  vituperation 
and  personal  abuse  has  been  left  to  the  enemies  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
a  tone  of  moderation  and  forbearance  has  been  aimed  at  consistent 
with  the  humane  and  sacred  objects  contemplated.  The  gratifying 
fact  that  none  of  the  twenty  official  papers  of  the  Committee  have 
been  subjected  to  unfriendly  criticism  attests  the  public  appreciation 
of  this  policy,  and  is  grateful  to  those  who  have  deliberately  chosen 
it  irrespective  of  the  precedents  of  modern  reforms. 
,  The  distribution  of  the  Committee's  documents  has  varied  from 
2,000  to  10,000  or  20,000  copies  severally,  as  the  issues  have  required. 
They  have  been  placed  gratuitously  in  the  hands  of  influential  citi- 
zens, public  officers,  editors,  clergymen,  etc.  Three  important 
documents  in  the  German  language  have  been  circulated  by  thou- 
sands through  the  missionary  employed  by  the  Committee  among 
the  Germans,  and  among  German  pastors  and  editors ;  and  several 
hundred  copies  have  been  sent  to  leaduig  men  in  Germany.  "  Rail- 
roads and  the  Sabbath  "  (Ko.  2.)  was  directed  to  thousands  of  di- 
rectors and  employes  of  Railway  companies.  "The  Broderic 
Sunday  pageant  "  (No.  10.)  was  sent  to  4,000  firemen.  "  The  Sab- 
bath and  the  Pulpit "  (No.  20.)  was  mailed  to  nearly  5,000  clergymen 
"The  Plea  for  the  Sabbath  in  War  "  (No.  19.)  was  addressed  to  all 


6 

the  officers  of  Government,  and  to  as  many  military  officers  as  could 
be  reached  with  certainty ;  and  packages  were  sent  for  the  supply  of 
all  the  regiments  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  noble  Sab- 
bath Order  of  Gen.  McClellan  was  issued,  the  Committee  requested 
the  American  Tract  Society  to  publish  it  in  connection  with  Wash- 
ington's order  respecting  the  Sabbath  and  Profane  Swearing ;  and 
30,000  copies  in  English  and  24,000  in  German  have  been  distribu- 
ted in  the  army,  at  the  joint  expense  of  the  two  associations,  besides 
some  50,000  copies  through  the  channels  of  the  Tract  Society 
separately. 

The  object  of  all  these  movements  has  been  the  creation  of  an  in- 
telligent, healthful  sentiment  friendly  to  a  due  observance  of  the 
Sabbath.  This  done,  it  Avas  believed,  and  has  been  demonstrated, 
that  specific  reforms  would  work  themselves  out  with  little  direct 
effort.  Whoever  may  attempt  the  reverse  order,  and  seek  to  carry 
oiit  reformatory  schemes  in  the  face  of  an  indiflTerent  or  hostile  pub- 
lic sentiment,  may  expect  disaster  and  defeat. 

It  remains  to  notice  the  third  element  of  influence — 2)ersonal  ex- 
ertion. In  its  very  nature  secluded  from  public  observation,  little 
can  properly  be  said  of  its  methods  or  results.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  it  has  not  been  the  least  effective  of  the  agencies  em- 
ployed. In  needful  investigations  and  explorations ;  in  personal 
conferences  Avith  the  conductors  of  the  Press,  public  authorities, 
and  legislative  committees  ;  in  procuring  signatures  to  memorials  ; 
in  securing  the  passage  of  wholesome  laws,  or  defending  them  when 
assailed ;  in  providing  adequate  funds  without  public  appeals  of  any 
sort  therefor,  and  in  the  careful  direction  of  every  branch  of  an  ex- 
panding enterprise,  the  several  members  of  the  Committee  have 
cheerfully  devoted  no  inconsiderable  amount  of  time  and  effort  to  an 
object  worthy  of  the  sacrifice:  with  abundant  proofs,  that,  under  the 
blessing  of  the  Most  High,  they  have  not  labored  in  vain  nor  spent 
their  strength  for  naught. 


SPECIFIC  MEASURES  AND  RESULTS. 

When  the  Committee  began  their  labors,  they  anticipated  years 
of  preliminary  effort  before  it  would  be  expedient  to  attempt  specific 
reforms.  The  promptness  of  the  recoil  from  the  abuses  and  dangers 
brought  to  liglit  in  the  early  papers  of  the  Committee,  induced  a 
speedier  attempt  than  had  been  purposed  to  restrain  some  of  the 
more  offensive  forms  of  Sabbath  profanation.  Beginning  with  those 
which  admitted  of  no  apology  or  defence  at  the  bar  of  public  opin- 


ion,  the  several  issues  made  by  the  Committee  may  be  classified  as 
follows : 

1.  Offences  agalnsl  the  Public  Peace  and  Order. 

2.  Invasions  of  Public  Morals. 

3.  Protection  of  the  Sabbath  in  War. 

4.  Promotion  of  the  general  Sabbath  Reform. 

A  brief  statement  of  the  leading  facts  in  the  history  of  these  several 
movements  will  illustrate  the  policy  of  the  Committee  and  the  results 
of  their  labors. 

1.    Offences  against  the  public  Peace  and  Order. 

Of  this  class  the  Sunday  neivs-C7-ying  nuisance  was  the  most  ob- 
trusive and  least  defensible.  It  had,  indeed,  gained  a  foot-hold,  by 
a  quarter  of  a  century  of  unmanly  toleration,  strong  enough  to  se- 
cure for  it  the  immunity  of  extra-judicial  sanction:  for  the  then 
Recorder  of  the  city  went  out  of  his  Avay  to  protect  the  "poor 
friendless  boys  "  who  were  hawking  "  a  public  necessity,"  and  to  as- 
sure the  Grand  Jury  that  he  "  didn't  think  much  of  Sunday  Laws — 
which  were  well  enough  as  abstract  morality,  but  altogether  too 
slow  for  the  age !  "  The  Sunday  papers  defended  the  nuisance  most 
pertinaciously — some  of  them  having  Daily  issues — with  the  evident 
purpose  of  driving  from  the  field  of  discussion  and  reform  any  body 
of  men  bold  enough  to  interfere  with  their  prescriptive  monopoly  of 
traffic  and  noise  on  the  Lord's  Day.  So  violent  was  this  onslaught 
that  one  of  the  Editors  of  the  Sunday felt  constrained  to  pro- 
test against  it  as  having  "  its  origin  in  the  unquiet  minds  of  two  or 
three  degraded  and  depraved  individuals,  who  have  most  unworthily 
worn  the  vestments  of  the  priesthood,  and  who  now  seek  popular 
preferment  by  pandering  to  the  passions  and  the  lusts  of  the  very 
worst  classes  of  society  ;  "  and  he  proceeds  to  declare  :  "  I  am  to- 
tally misrepresented  by  the  Press  of  Avhich  I  am  Editor,  and  which 
through  some,  to  me,  unexplained  means,  has  been  made  the  organ 
of  folly,  falsehood,  and  ribaldry.^'' 

The  only  public  measure  resorted  to,  after  the  scornful  treatment 
of  a  respectful  remonstrance  addressed  to  the  several  Proprietors  of 
the  Sunday  newspapers,  was  the  preparation  and  presentation  of  a 
"  Memorial  against  the  crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday  "  "  to  the 
Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners,"  on  the  grounds  that  it  was  a 
school  of  vice  to  the  newsboys ;  that  their  evil  example  was  dis- 
astrous to  the  children  of  the  city ;  that  it  was  an  unwarrantable 
monopoly  of  traffic ;  that  it  invaded  the  claims  of  courtesy  and  good- 
neighborhood,  and  that  thus  it  was  a  violation  of  the  rights  of  good 


citizens.  This  memorial  received  the  signa«tures  of  a  hundred  or 
more  of  our  most  prominent  citizens.  The  Commissioners  immed- 
iately issued  an  oi'der  for  the  suppression  of  the  evil.  The  Sunday 
papers  counselled  resistance  and  threatened  vengeance.  But  after 
a  few  months  of  persevering  hut  forbearing  effort,  the  nuisance  Avas 
wholly  abated,  and  is  now  remembered  only  with  a  feeling  of  sur- 
prise that  a  civilized  and  a  Christian  community  should  have  so  long 
endured  so  gross  an  outrage. 

The  Broderic  Sunday  Pageant  furnished  another  occasion  for  test- 
ing the  strength  of  the  public  f^entiment  on  this  question.  The  pro- 
gramme for  this  sham-funeral  proposed  to  marshal  the  whole  Fire 
Department,  some  4,000  strong,  Avith  banners,  bands  of  music,  and 
all  the  paraphernalia  of  a  popular  pageant  on  the  Sabbath.  It  "was 
postponed  from  week  to  week  on  account  of  storms,  but  notwith- 
standing the  remonstrances  of  the  Press,  was  always  set  down  for 
Sunday.  This  precedent  seemed  needless  and  impertinent.  A  Pro- 
test against  this  abuse  of  the  Sabbath,  with  550  signatures,  was 
presented  to  the  officers  of  the  Department  and  sent  to  the  Foremen 
of  160  Fire  Companies;  and  when  it  Avas  determined  to  disregard 
it,  the  Protest  was  inserted  in  all  our  Public  Journals.  The  issue 
was  fairly  joined.  The  result  proved  that  Sunday  Pageants  are  at 
a  discount  in  our  city.  The  entire  procession  numbered  541 — not 
half  of  whom  were  firemen ;  and  their  long  march  through  our 
streets  was  but  a  lugubrious  advertisement  of  the  failure  of  their 
boasted  display.     There  has  been  no  repetition  of  the  wrong. 

The  attempt  to  pervert  the  Central  Park  into  a  Sunday  holiday 
arena  compelled  the  Committee's  attention.  The  entering  wedge 
was  very  small — only  Pleasure-boats  on  the  Lakes,  licensed  carriages 
for  Sunday  drives.  Refreshment-houses  for  Sunday  visitors,  and  like 
provisions  for  a  European  rather  than  an  American  use  of  those 
magnificent  public  grounds.  The  danger  of  the  formal  authorization 
'Of  this  insidious  beginning  of  evil  Avas  more  imminent  than  the  pub- 
lic were  aware.  The  Committee  addressed  a  respectful  Letter  to 
the  Commissioners,  claiming  that  the  entire  Sabbath  arrangements 
•of  the  Park  should  be  such  as  neither  to  offend  nor  corrupt  the  pub- 
llie  conscience :  and  urging  the  necessity  of  adopting  such  a  princi- 
;ple,  as  a  bar  to  innumerable  perversions ;  as  alone  consistent  Avith 
the  spirit  of  our  laws  and  institutions ;  as  simply  just  and  equal  to 
.all  citizens  and  tax-payers  ;  as  preventing  the  popular  demoi-alization 
uniformly  attending  Sunday  license,  and  as  due  to  the  rights  and 
feelings  of  the  Christian  community.  This  Letter  was  given  to  the 
ncAvspaper  Press,  and  Av^as  generally  accepted  as  a  just  and  temper- 
ate exposition  of  a  perplexing  question.     It  is  believed  that  it  ex- 


pressed  the  \dews  substantially  of  a  majority  of  the  worthy  Com 
missioners  of  the  Park,  and  that  there  will  be  no  deviation  from  the 
princij^les  suggested  in  the  regulations  for  the  enjoyment  of  that 
costly  and  invaluable  place  of  public  recreation. 

3.   Invasions  of  Public  Morals. 

Far  more  formidable  issues  presented  themselves  as  the  reform 
advanced.  Systems  of  evil  overspread  the  city,  vast  enough  in  their 
13roportions  to  discourage  the  hope  of  their  overthrow.  Some  of 
them  remain  unrebuked :  others  have  been  subjected  to  the  restraints 
of  law  and  public  opinion.  The  most  prominent  of  the  latter  has 
been  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.  Availing  itself  of  the  full  pockets 
and  idle  time  of  the  laboring  classes,  Sunday  was  the  harvest-day  of 
the  Dram-shops — and  of  the  Prisons. 

After  months  of  consultation  and  investigation,  the  Committee 
sj^read  the  results  of  their  inquiries  before  the  public  in  a  temperate  pa- 
per, (No.  5,)  showing  the  extent  and  accessories  of  the  Sunday  Traffic 
in  liquor,  and  its  illegality;  urging  its  suppression  on  the  ground  that  it 
engenders  Pauperism,  crime,  lawlessness  and  irreligion ;  and  suggest- 
ing adequate  Remedies.  The  subject  Avas  earnestly  discussed  by  the 
secular,  religious  and  Sunday  Press  for  several  months.  Public  senti- 
ment rapidly  ripened  into  determined  hostility  against  a  selfish  and 
demoralizing  business,  and  obviously  demanded  the  intervention  of 
the  Magistracy.  At  length  the  Committee  embodied  the  views  of  good 
citizens  in  a  Memorial  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Metro- 
liolitan  Police,  asking  for  Protection  and  Relief,  which  speedily  had 
some  six  hundred  signatures  of  a  character  to  indicate  the  readiness 
of  the  entire  body  of  our  respectable  poj^ulation  to  append  their 
names,  if  requested.  A  counter-memorial,  German  and  English,  re- 
ceived some  1,200  signatures,  and  was  presented  by  a  deputation  of 
anti-Sunday  "  clergymen  ; "  but,  five-sixths  of  the  names  could  not 
be  found  in  the  Directory,  or  were  set  down  as  Liquor-dealers,  segar- 
eellers  and  other  parties  in  interest !  The  Commissioners  unani- 
mously passed  a  series  of  pertinent  resolutions,  the  fifth  of  Avhich 
took  the  ground  "  That  present  abuses  in  disregarding  the  Sunday 
laws,  particularly  in  public  exhibitions  on  Sundays,  and  trafficking  in 
liquors  and  other  like  things,  should,  so  far  as  the  law  allows,  be  pre- 
vented by  the  Avhole  power  of  the  police  force  and  the  magistracy." 
This  action  was  followed  by  a  General  Order  of  Superintendent 
Pilsbury  to  the  Captains  of  Precincts,  "  instructing  the  members  of 
their  comiuands  to  see  that  all  places  where  intoxicating  liquors  are 
publicly  kept  or  sold  on  Sunday  shall  be  closed  in  future  on  that 
dav." 


10 

From  that  time  (Aug.  1859)  to  the  present,  the  contest  has  con- 
tinned  hetween  the  Police  authorities  under  the  successive  adminis- 
trations and  the  Sunday  Liquor  Dealers,  with  multiform  attempts  at 
evasion  or  resistance,  hut  ■with  increasing  vigor  and  success.  Find- 
ing that  the  accumulation  of  complaints  to  the  number  of  more  than 
30,000  in  the  office  of  the  District  Attorney  failed  to  deter  the  vio- 
lators of  law,  the  Police  were  instructed  to  make  arrests  of  offend- 
ers. When  magistrates  interposed  to  discharge  their  friends  from 
arrest,  they  were  properly  restrained  from  unlaAvful  interference. 
And  w^hen  Sunday  courts  were  held  open  for  the  express  purpose 
of  facilitating  the  discharge  of  Sunday  law-breakers,  arrests  were 
deferred  till  the  evening,  so  as  to  secure  at  least  a  night  of  reflection 
in  the  station-house  on  the  conduct  of  the  day.  Many  of  the  Sunday 
dealers  are  known  to  prosecute  their  business  still  through  side- 
enti'ances  and  back-doors ;  but  as  a  public  system,  the  traffic  in 
liquors  on  the  Sabbath  is  substantially  overthrown. 

The  results  as  affecting  public  morals  are  worthy  the  attention  of 
political  economists  as  well  as  of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath.  Con- 
trasted with  the  period  preceding  the  effort  for  the  Suppression  of 
Sunday  Liquor  selling,  the  following  statistics  tell  the  instructive  story: 

The  arrests  for  intoxication,  disorder  and  crime,  on  Sunday,  dur- 
ing eighteen  months  of  the  period  — 1857-58 — preceding  tlie  agita- 
tion of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Question,  exceeded  those  of  Tuesday 
(taken  as  the  average  of  the  week-days)  by  twenty-five  tek  cent., 
as  officially  reported. 

But  the  statistics  of  the  Police  Department  show  that  during  the 
following  eighteen  months  the  Tiiesdai/'^s  arrests  exceeded  those  of  the 
Sundar/s  by  fifty  per  cent.,  or  a  relative  change  of  seventy-five 
per  cent.  The  comparison  of  the  actual  results  with  those  which 
would  have  followed  had  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  contimied  with- 
out restraint,  will  show  a  saving  of  nearly  9,000  cases  of  vice  and 
crime  on  the  Sundays  of  eighteen  months,  as  the  fruits  of  this  be- 
neficent reform. 

Li  the  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
for  March,  1862,  the  Judge  stated  the  gratifying  fact — illustrative 
of  the  remark  that  " the  criminal  statistics  of  New  York  compaied 
favorably  with  those  of  any  city  in  the  world," — that  there  were 
now  but  ffty  criminal  cases  on  the  calender  for  trial,  against  tivo 
hundred  and  seven tij-five  at  the  corresponding  term  one  year  ago. 

The  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer  Gardens,  by  skillfully  evading  the 
then  existing  laws,  profited  for  a  time  by  the  closing  of  the  Sunday 
dram-shops.     Intrenching  themselves  in  quarters  of  the  city  chiefly 


11 

inhabited  by  German  immigrants  ;  advertising  in  German  papers 
under  the  title  of  "  Sacred  Concerts,"  and  having  their  performances 
in  a  foreign  language,  they  had  become  a  demoralizing  agency  of 
fearful  proportions,  almost  without  the  knowledge  of  the  American 
pojiulation.  At  least  a  score  of  these  places  were  open  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  were  crowded  by  men,  women,  and  children  every  Sunday, 
with  every  conceivable  appliance  of  sensual  diversion,  from  comedy, 
tragedy,  songs,  dancing,  acrobatic  sports  on  the  stage,  to  gambling, 
drinknig,  billiard-playing,  bowling,  shooting,  and  fighting  in  the  au- 
ditorium and  lobbies.  Many  of  them  were  known  houses  of  assig- 
nation and  prostitution.  The  repeated  attempts  to  bring  this  sys- 
tem under  the  decent  restraints  of  the  theatre  law  were  nugatory. 
It  defied  the  officers  of  justice,  and  outraged  the  rights  of  society. 
Depending  confessedly  on  its  Sunday  profits  for  support,  its  man- 
agers combined  to  defeat  all  attempts  to  bring  the  system  within 
.  the  restraints  of  law  and  jjublic  sentiment. 

The  nature  and  extent  of  this  evil  were  exposed  in  a  pamphlet  of 
24  pages  (Document  jSTo.  11),  discussing  the  claims  of  foreigners  to 
iannunity  for  their  vices,  and  vindicating  the  constitutional  right  of 
our  legislature  to  restrain  the  abuses  of  our  civil  Sabbath,  whether 
by  native  or  foreign-born  citizens.  The  discussion  became  general 
and  animated  between  the  organs  of  American  sentiment  and  the 
German  press,  with  their  natural  allies,  the  Sunday  papers  in  Eng- 
lish. The  latter  assumed  the  position  that  the  Sunday  Beer  Garden 
system  Avas  supported  by  the  entire  German  population,  and  thus 
sought  to  impose  upon  political  parties  the  idea  that  restraint  of  their 
"  national  customs"  would  involve  the  united  hostility  of  that  na- 
tionality. The  large  and  respectable  class  of  orderly  and  Chris- 
tian Germans  resented  this  imputation.  An  immense  gathering  in 
Cooper  Institute  avowed  their  attachment  to  the  laws  and  institu- 
tions of  their  adopted  country  ;  protesting  "  against  the  perversion  ox 
Sunday"  by  a  portion  of  their  countrymen,  as  "  bringing  dishonor 
on  the  German  name ;"  and  approving  the  Sunday  laws  "  as  one 
of  the  strongest  guarantees  of  our  free  institutions,  as  a  wholesome 
check  upon  licentiousness  and  dissipation,  and  as  a  preventive  of 
the  pauperism  and  crime  which  must  necessarily  undermine  and  ul- 
timately destroy  the  liberty  of  any  people." 

Our  Sunday  laws  enacted  fifty  years  ago  did  not  contemplate 
such  formidable  offences  as  were  found  to  exist  among  a  large  emi- 
grant population ;  and  it  became  necessary  to  seek  the  enactment  of 
a  statute  more  adequate  to  their  suppression.  The  Sunday-Theatre 
Act  of  1860  encountered  the  mpst  virulent  opposition.  The  theatre» 
brewing,  and  lager  beer  interests  formed  associations  to  resist  the 


12 

passage  or  enforcement  of  the  law,  raising  funds  and  levying  a  tariff 
on  the  Sunday  sales  of  lager  for  this  purpose.  Numerous  delega- 
tions visited  Albany,  and  paid  agents  were  kept  there  to  prevent 
the  success  of  the  measure.  The  proceeds  of  theatrical  "  benefits" 
Avere  devoted  to  the  same  object.  A  German  petition  for  the  re- 
peal of  all  Sunday  laws,  and  remonstrance  against  the  theatre  law 
— claiming  to  have  from  10,000  to  100,000  signatures — had  4,805 
names  appended  to  it;  but  of  the  first  317  names  claiming  to  be 
"citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York,"  only  11  were  found  in  the 
City  Directory,  and  5  of  these  were  saloon-keepers  and  grocers  ! 
The  respectable  Germans  rallied  and  sent  a  counter-petition,  numer- 
ously signed.  The  act  became  a  law  in  April,  18G0.  The  theatre 
proprietors  generally  defied  the  law,  and  continued  to  violate  it — 
some  of  them  openly,  and  one  or  two  under  the  sham  of  a  "  Shaker 
Congregation.''''  The  police  authorities  made  frequent  arrests — 
mostly  on  the  day  succeeding  the  ofience.  The  counsel  of  the 
"  House  of  Refuge,"  charged  with  the  enforcement  of  the  civil 
penalty,  proceeded  by  suits  and  injunction  orders  to  enforce  the 
provisions  of  the  act,  and  was  soon  face  to  face  Avith  parties  who 
had  long  trifled  with  all  the  laws  regulating  theatrical  amusements. 
In  every  suit  he  was  successful.  In  every  court  where  the  question 
was  raised,  the  constitutionality  of  the  act,  though  contested  by  the 
ablest  legal  talent,  Avas  afiirmed.  Meanwhile,  the  criminal  suits  ma- 
tured, and  the  leading  offender  was  convicted  before  a  jury.  The 
appeal  to  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  resulted  in  the 
memorable  decision  of  Judges  Clarke,  Sutherland,  and  Allen,  sus- 
taining the  constitutionality  of  laws  protecting  the  civil  Sabbath. 
(See  Doc.  No.  XVIII.)  The  result  of  this  protracted  contest  has 
been  the  subjection  to  law  of  the  most  persistent  and  notorious  of- 
fenders ;  the  settlement  of  the  principle  that  foreigners  coming 
among  us  are  to  respect  and  obey  the  laws  they  find  here,  until  they 
are  regularly  changed ;  and  the  vindication  of  our  constitution  from 
the  sophisms  of  sceptical  and  lawless  classes. 

A  vigorous  onset  was  made  on  the  legislature  of  1861,  to  effect 
the  repeal  of  the  Sunday  theatre  act.  Large  sums  of  money  were 
raised  and  expended  for  this  purpose.  Several  meethigs  were  held 
on  Sunday,  in  Sunday  theatres,  to  denounce  the  Sabbath  and  all 
laws  for  its  protection,  Avhich  Avere  addressed  by  ex-"  clergymen," 
actors,  and  other  defenders  of  "  liberty,"  amidst  the  fumes  of  lager 
and  tobacco,  and  the  profane  babblings  of  an  infidel  throng.  Peti- 
tions for  the  abrogation  of  all  Sunday  laAvs,  boasting  25,000  signa- 
tures, but  containing  fewer  names  in'fact  than  the  aggregate  num- 
ber of  lager  and  liquor  sellers  in  New  York-^three-fourths  of  them 


13 

all  being  bogus — were  sent  to  Albany.  It  was  not  deemed  needful 
to  agitate  the  public  or  invite  signatures  to  remonstrances.  All 
that  was  done  was  to  appear  before  the  committee  having  the  mat- 
ter in  charge,  furnish  information  to  the  legislature  as  to  the  work- 
ing of  the  law,  and  mvite  a  meeting  of  Germans  in  Cooper  Insti- 
tute. An  enthusiastic  gathering  of  some  3,000  of  them  gave  the 
legislature  and  the  public  to  vinderstand  that  Sunday  beer  gardens 
were  doomed  by  Germans  themselves.  Nevertheless,  the  commit- 
tee on  cities  and  villages,  with  a  majority  of  its  members  from  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  reported  a  bill  authorizing  the  sale  of  malt  li- 
quors on  Sunday  and  on  all  other  days  of  the  week.  The  minority  of 
the  committee,  through  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ball  of  Kensselaer,  presented 
an  elaborate  report  against  this  and  all  Sunday  license.  The  result 
was  the  defeat  of  the  anti-Sunday  scheme  by  a  vote  of  74  to  23 — 
no  less  than  IS  of  the  minority  representing  New  York  City  and  its 
vicinity.  No  subsequent  effort  has  been  made  to  disturb  our  Sun- 
day laws. 

8.  Protection  of  the  Sabbath  in  War. 

The  stirring  events  of  our  unhappy  civil  war  involved  new  and 
imminent  perils  to  the  Sabbath  and  related  interests.  What  with 
necessary  inroads  on  the  quiet  and  order  of  a  time  of  peace,  and  the 
license  regarded  as  almost  inseparable  from  a  state  of  war,  the  most 
serious  apprehensions  Avere  entertained  that  the  barriers  of  law  and 
public  sentiment  so  happily  restored,  in  a  good  degree,  might  give 
way  before  the  pressure  of  this  novel  influence.  For  a  time,  the 
Sabbath  seemed  to  be  the  chosen  day  for  the  movement  and  display 
of  troops.  Regiment  after  regiment,  enlisted  in  this  city,  and  from 
other  States,  marched  the  length  of  the  city,  and  embarked  for  the 
seat  of  war  on  Sunday,  calling  our  idle  population,  young  and  old, 
by  tens  of  thousands  to  witness  the  pageant.  The  Committee  saw 
the  drift  of  things  with  pain,  but  deemed  it  prudent  to  forego  re- 
monstrance until  the  public  mind  should  resume  something  of  calm- 
ness ;  when  a  brief  appeal — "  Sabbath  in  War  " — was  made  to  the 
public  and  to  our  municipal  authorities,  which  had  a  ready  response 
from  the  press  and  the  people.  Various  incipient  abuses  were 
effectually  checked  by  the  police.  The  arrangements  for  forwarding 
troops  were  modified  so  as  to  leave  the  Sabbath  mostly  undisturbed 
— Adjutant-General  Hillhouse  omitting  the  Sabbath  wholly  from  the 
programme  Avhich  started  a  regiment  for  the  seat  of  war  each  day 
for  a  period  of  some  three  weeks.  The  metropolis  soon  regained  its 
wonted  order  and  quiet,  and  has  passed  thus  fxr  through  a  period 
of  war  with  steadily  diminishing  lawlessness  and  crime. 

Meanwhile,  the  movements  of  our  troops  at  the  seat  of  war  be- 


14 

came  notoriously  and  needlessly  defiant  of  the  claims  of  the  Sabbath. 
Nearly  all  the  engagements  of  the  three-months'  volunteers  were  on 
Sunday — and  their  last  huniiliatnig  defeat  before  Manassas  was  in  a 
Sunday  battle.  The  Christian  sentiment  of  tlie  country  was  out- 
raged, and  expressed  itself  in  calm,  sorrowful  protest.  The  Com- 
mittee, though  contemplating  chiefly  local  reforms  in  its  organization, 
felt  constrained  to  embody  Avhat  they  thought  to  be  just  and  tem- 
perate views  on  the  relations  of  the  Sabbath  to  the  Avar — see  "  Plea 
for  the  Sabbath  in  TFor,"  Doc.  No.  19 — which  they  gave  to  the  press, 
and  sent  in  Pamphlet  form  to  the  officers  of  government,  civil  and 
military, — thousands  of  copies  having  been  placed  in  the  hands  of 
line  and  company  officers  and  soldiers.  The  copy  addressed  to  the 
newly-appointed  Major-General  commanding  on  the  Potomac  was 
accompanied  by  a  private  note,  August  30,  from  one  who  "  claimed 
more  than  a  mere  patriot's  interest  in  his  public  career ; "  and  ex- 
pressing the  conviction  that  "  no  single  act  would  be  more  potent 
in  conciliating  and  binding  to  himself  the  moral  and  religious  ele- 
ment of  the  North,  or  more  stimulate  and  reassure  the  Christian 
patriotism  of  the  country,  than  one  that  should  link  his  name  with 
a  restored  Sabbath  for  the  army  and  the  nation."  On  the  6th  of 
September,  that  memorable  general  order  for  the  protection  of  the 
rights  of  soldiers  and  citizens  to  their  Sabbath,  which  may  be  con- 
sidered as  the  most  signal  moral  incident  of  the  war,  issued  from 
the  cool  brain  and  warm  heart  of  General  McClellan :  and  in  a  week's 
time  it  flew  from  camp  to  camp,  and  from  heart  to  heart,  throughout 
the  loyal  states  ;  inspiring  hope  and  foith  and  zeal  for  a  cause  thus 
redeemed  from  association  with  impiety ;  and  inaxigurating  the  new 
regime  of  discipline,  sobriety,  patience  and  energy,  under  which, 
with  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High,  our  armies  are  gaining  victory 
and  renown. 

4.  Promotion  of  the  General  Sabbath  Reform. 

The  reaction  in  favor  of  the  Sabbath  from  the  repeated  disasters 
to  our  arms  in  needless  Sunday  battles,  and  in  connection  with  the 
noble  utterances  of  the  new  General-in-Chief,  providentially  gave 
national  proportions  to  a  movement  which  had  been  chiefly  local. 
The  time  had  apparently  arrived  for  inviting  the  cooperation  of 
the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  throughout  the  country  in  the  eflfort 
to  restore  its  foundations  and  restrain  its  invaders.  Especially  did 
the  juncture  seem  favorable  for  the  discussion  of  the  great  ]irin- 
ciples  of  divine  and  human  legislation  on  Avhich  the  Sabbath  is 
based,  whether  in  its  sacred  or  civil  relations.  With  this  view 
the  Committee  issued  their  Circular  Letter  to  the  clergy — "  The 


15 

Sabbath  and  the  Pulpit,'''  Doc.  No.  XX. — of  which  some  5,000  copies 
were  mailed  to  pastors,  besides  its  neAvspaper  circulation.  Numer- 
ous responses  have  been  received  to  this  Letter,  and  a  more  general 
discussion  has  been  given  to  the  Sabbath  Question  by  the  Pulpit 
than  perhaps  ever  before. 

In  accordance  with  this  general  design,  the  Committee  arranged 
for  a  series  of  Sermons  on  the  Sabbath,  on  successive  Sunday  even- 
ings, which  has  been  eminently  successful  and  useful.  The  Rev. 
Drs.  Rice,  Hague,  Ganse,  Adams,  Foster  and  Vinton — Pastors  of 
Old-  and  New-School  Presljyterian,  Baptist,  Reformed  Dutch, 
Methodist  and  Episcopal  churches — have  delivered  able  and  in- 
structive Discourses  to  immense  congregations,  on  the  Origin,  His- 
tory, Authority,  Duties,  Abuses  and  Civil  Relations  of  the  Christian 
Sabbath.  Newspaper  reports  of  these  sermons  have  gone  forth  to 
thousands  of  clergymen  and  tens  of  thousands  of  Christian  readers, 
encouraging  the  faith,  and  stimulating  the  zeal  of  all;  and  the 
Messks.  Carter  now  have  the  series  in  press. 

The  Committee  have  aimed  to  keep  the  active  friends  of  the  Sab- 
bath in  various  parts  of  this  country  and  in  Euroj^e  apprised  of  the 
progress  of  the  Reform  with  which  they  were  charged.  Their 
Documents  have  been  widely  dispersed.  Those  in  German  have 
been  sent  in  large  numbers  to  leading  Christians  on  the  Continent. 
It  is  'with  unfeigned  gratification  that  they  observe  a  steady  and 
healthful  advance  in  Sabbath  sentiment  throughout  our  country  and 
in  the  Old  World.  Among  other  indications,  we  may  note  the  ener- 
getic and  successful  movements  in  California  for  the  enactment  and 
enforcement  of  Sunday  Laws  ;  similar  eftbrts  in  Nevada ;  the  organi- 
zation of  Sabbath  Defence  Committees  in  various  cities,  and  the 
wide  discussion  of  the  subject  in  the  Pulpit  and  by  the  Press.  In 
Great  Britain,  unwonted  attention  is  given  to  the  suppression  of 
Sabbath  profanations ;  and  on  the  Continent,  the  proceedings  at  the 
Geneva  meeting  of  the  "Evangelical  Alliance"  have  led  to  the 
organization  of  efficient  Sabbath  Associations  in  Switzerland  and 
elsewhere,  with  the  promise  of  fruitful  results.  It  may  be  that  the 
providential  prominence  given  to  the  Sabbath  in  our  national  humi- 
liations and  triumphs,  may  serve  to  hold  it  up  to  the  world  with 
new  impressiveness  as  inseparably  associated  with  order,  law, 
liberty  and  religion :  so  that  a  restored  Union  and  a  recovered 
Sabbath  may  together  vindicate  the  principles  and  illustrate  the  con- 
ditions of  self-governing  institutions  to  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

The  future  of  tliis  reform  is  committed  to  the  ordering  of  the 
same  Divine  Hand  whose  gracious  leading  we  have  had  occasion  to 
seek  and  recognize  in  the  past.     So  long  as  selfishness  and  sin  exist, 


16 


and  in  the  measure  of  theii"  power,  will  there  be  occasion  for  vigi- 
lant eifort  to  guard  an  institution  whose  sacred  claims  cross  their 
pathway  every  recurring  seventh  day.  Only  Avhen  the  light  of  the 
Sabbath  of  Paradise,  Sinai  and  Calvary  shall  be  hailed  Avith  rever- 
ence and  gratitude  by  an  obedient,  Sabbath-keeping,  Christian  nation, 
will  our  work,  and  that  of  our  successors,  be  done. 


NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER, 
E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D., 
NATHAN  BISHOP, 
WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH, 
ROBERT  CARTER, 
THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS, 
JNO.  ELLIOTT, 
FRED.  G.  FOSTER, 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 
HORACE  HOLDEN, 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Eecording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (President  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer. 


JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 
GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 
WM.  A.  SMITH, 
OTIS  D.  SWAN, 
WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 
F.  S.  WINSTON, 
0.  E.  WOOD, 


Office  of  the  Sabbath  Committee,  21  Biblb  Hofse,  New  Toek. 


,REC.  NOV  1880 

THE    S^BB.  ^  ^ 


r 


^VS    IT    W^S    ^ND    ^S    IT    IS. 


Oar  ancestors  loved  tlie  Christian  Sabbath.  In  the  days  of  the 
first  Dutch  colony  of  "  New  Amsterdam,"  as  early  as  1647-8, 
Peter  Stuyvesant,  Director-General,  issued  Proclamations  and 
Decrees  against  the  invasion  of  "  the  Lord's  Day  of  rest,"  "  to  the 
great  annoj^ance  of  the  neighborhood,  and  to  the  dishonoring  of 
God's  holy  laws  and  commandments,  which  enjoin  upon  ns  to 
honor  and  sanctify  Ilim  on  this  holy  day  of  rest."  One  of  the 
earliest  Acts  of  the  "  General  Assembly  of  the  [English]  colony 
of  New  York,"  in  1695,  was  one  entitled,  "  An  Act  against  the 
Prophanation  of  the  Lord's  Day,  called  Sunday." 

In  1813  the  Legislature  of  this  State  passed  Laws  protecting  the 
Sabbath,  based  on  the  colonial  act  of  1695 ;  and  they  remain  in 
the  Revised  Statutes.  The  Metropolitan  Police  Act  prohibits  the 
sale  of  any  intoxicating  liquors  on  Sunday,  under  a  penalty  of 
$50.     These  are  State  laws. 

During  forty  years,  from  1797  to  1834,  concurrent  municipal 
ordinances  were  enacted,  of  a  stringent  character.  They  were 
revi:;ed  and  rcenacted  in  1803,  '5,  '7,  '12,  '17,  '21,  '23  and  '27. 
But  in  1834  they  suddenly  disa-ppeared  from  our  municipal  Statute 
BooJi,  and  have  ceased  to  exist !  If  they  were  deemed  wise  and 
necessary  in  addition  to  State  legislation,  during  a  long  period 
when  our  population  did  not  exceed  50,000  or  100,000,  was 
their  repeal  called  for  when  the  city  contained  half  a  million 
souls  ?  Does  the  present  state  of  public  morals  indicate  the  wis- 
dom of  lessening  the  restraints  of  wholesome  legislation  ?  One 
of  the  most  eminent  jurists,  now  on  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  has  said,  "Where  there  is  no  Cliris- 
tian  Sabbath,  there  is  no  Christian  morality ;  and  without  this, 
free  government  cannot  long  be  sustained." 

The  facts  as  to  the  "  existing  desecration"  of  the  Lord's  Day,  are 
sufficiently  obvious  to  all.  That  they  are  not  more  commonly 
noticed  and  commented  on  arises  from  familiarity  with  sounds  and 
scenes  which  would  once  have  offended  the  eye  and  pained  the 
ear.  The  violation  of  divine  laws  is  so  frequent  and  constant  that 
it  almost  ceases  to  move  us.     It  is  true  that  the  more  respectable 

Sab.  C;oiu.  ]>oc.  IVo.  1. 


2  THE    SABBATH    IN    NEW    YORK. 

business  classes  suspend  their  ordinary  avocations  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  our  banks,  insurance  offices,  commission  and  jobbing  houses,  and 
nearly  all  respectable  firms  close  their  places  of  business.  It  is  also 
true  that  the  sailing  of  vessels  on  the  Lord's  Day  is  less  frequent  than 
in  former  years.  Perhaps  a  fifth  or  sixth  part  of  the  population  re- 
pair to  some  place  of  public  worship,  and  thousands  of  Christian  &mi- 
lies  in  their  retirement  seek  to  improve  and  enjoy  the  Sabbath  hours. 

Meanwhile,  steamboats  are  arriving  and  departing  ;  Sunday  ex- 
cursions by 'steamboat  and  railway  carry  a  depraving  influence 
into  and  through  snbui-ban  villages  ;  groceries  and  other  shops  by 
thousands  pursue  their  wonted  traffic  ;  dance-houses  contribute  to 
the  guilt}^  pleasure  of  the  godless ;  public  gardens,  with  target- 
shooting,  gambling,  drinking,  and  bands  of  music  attract  crowds 
to  their  haunts  ;  and  in  these  and  numberless  other  ways  the  day 
of  holy  rest  is  turned  into  a  saturnalia. 

Of  the  many  specific  facts  which  have  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  Committee,  showing  the  disregard  of  sacred  time,  they  cite 
a  few  —  not  to  reproach  jjarticular  offenders,  but  as  illustrations  of 
a  lamentable  declension  in  this  branch  of  public  morals. 

It  is  understood  that  one  or  more  of  our  principal  lines  of  ocean 
steamers  have  been  accustomed  to  make  their  trial  trips  at  such 
times  as  to  include  the  Christian  Sabbath, 

Some  of  our  large  foundries  and  machine  shops,  employing 
many  workmen,  are  known  to  continue  their  business  on  the  Sab- 
bath in  active  se-isons  ;  and  the  repairs  and  changes  of  machinery 
in  ocean  and  river  steamers  are  frequently,  if  not  commonl}-,  made 
on  Sunday.  The  very  week  of  the  preparation  of  this  Report,  a 
mechanic  applying  for  admission  to  one  of  our  churches,  repre- 
sented that  he  had  been  turned  out  of  employment  in  one  of  these 
establishments,  because  of  his  refusal  to  work  on  the  Sabbath. 

Many  of  our  sugar  refineries  make  their  re})airs  on  the  Lord's 
Day ;  and  other  manufacturing  establishments,  like  cabinet  makers' 
shops,  tobacco  factories,  &:c.,  especially  those  under  the  control  of 
foreign  masters  or  capitalists,  do  not  cease  work  on  that  day. 

Some  printing  establishments  do  not  scruple  to  occupy  a  part 
of  the  Sabbath  hours,  needlessly  it  is  believed,  in  carrying  forward 
their  business.  The  fact  that  all  do  not  is  a  proof  that  it  cannot  be 
indispensably  necessary  for  any. 

Of  the  issues  of  the  Sunday  press,  and  the  methods  of  distribu- 
tion,  we  speak   elsewhere.     We   would   only  allude   here  to  the 


THE    SABBATH    IN    NEW    YORK.  3 

questionable  consistency  of  supporting  tins  form  of  desecration,  by 
the  advertising  patronage  of  Christian  men  and  Christian  firais. 

Sunday  funerals,  accompanied  by  military  pageants,  and  bands 
of  music,  are  not  infrequent,  and  are  the  cause  of  just  offence  to 
Sabbath-loving  citizens,  and  would  seem  to  be  a  gratuitous  disturb- 
ance of  domestic  quiet  and  of  public  worship. 

Fire  and  Target  companies  sometimes  select  the  Sabbath,  for  their 
parades.  Eeceutly  a  Fire  Engine  company,  attended  by  a  band  of 
music,  marched  through  various  streets  on  Sunday,  at  the  time  of 
assembling  for  Divine  service,  and  paraded  in  line  on  Broadway,  in 
front  of  a  Daguerrean  gallery,  employing  the  light  of  heaven  on 
the  day  of  God,  to  perpetuate  the  memorial  of  their  profane  act. 
A  public  garden  has  recently  been  opened  at  Ehinelander's  Point, 
near  "Hell  Gate,"  Avhicli  draws  thousands  in  the  summer  season 
to  its  haunts,  who  spend  the  Sunday  in  drinking,  target  firing,  and 
sports  of  various  kinds,  after  the  manner  of  continental  cities.  In 
one  instance,  a  neighbor  estimated  the  gathering  at  tAventy  thou- 
sand, chiefly  Germans. 

But  these  profanations  are  not  confined  to  the  less  informed  or 
emigrant  population.  "The  Academy  of  Music"  has  resounded, 
Sunday  night  after  Sunday  night,  witli  "  overtures  "  and  "  caprice 
fantasias "  and  the  applause  of  thoughtless  throngs,  who  shelter 
themselves  under  the  pretext  of  attendance  on  "Sacred  Oratorios." 
Theatres  have  also  opened  their  doors  for  "  sacred  "  performances 
on  Sunday  night.  Eighteen  such  "sacred  concerts  "  were  given 
on  a  single  Sabbath  in  June  last. 

But  without  extending  these  illustrations,  the  Committee  present 
some  statistical  facts,  the  result  of  a  careful  investigation  by  gentle- 
men engaged  in  the  City  Tract  Mission,  made  at  the  request  of 
your  Committee  in  June  last,  Avhich  should  command  profound 
attention.  They  reveal  a  measure  of  profanation  of  the  Christian 
Sabbath  at  which,  we  are  astounded.  They  are  as  follows : 
Number  of  Shops,  ^'c,  open  on  a  single  Sabbath. 
Restaurants,       .        .        .        .         .        .        .         .        .437 

Pawnbrokers'  Shops, 26 

Policy  and  Exchange  Offices, 34 

Daguerrean  Galleries, 54 

Confectionary  and  Segar  Stores, 1,234  ' 

Sabbath  Concerts, 18 

Dance-houses  and  places  of  amusement 85 

Dry  Goods  and  kindred  stores,        .....        2,419 

Groceries, 1,977 

Licjuor  Shops  and  Drinking  Saloons,       ....         3,408 

Total, 9,692 


4  THE   SABBATH   IN    NEW    YORK. 

Making  a  total  of  9,692  places  of  business  and  amusement  engaged 
in  their  ordinary  and  mostly  destructive  traffic  on  the  Lord's  day, 
or  about  one  place  to  every  66  of  the  entire  population.  If  the 
average  be  estimated  at  20  of  the  frequenters  and  customers  of  those 
concerns,  it  will  make  nearly  200,000  of  our  population  who  may 
be  classed  as  Sabbath -breakers,  and  patrons  of  Sabbath-breakers. 
Comment  would  only  weaken  the  force  of  this  appalling  state- 
ment, and  we  leave  it,  with  all  its  awful  significance,  for  the  study 
of  the  friends  of  sound  morals  and  jiure  religion. 

The  remaining  topic  of  inquiry  assigned  to  the  Committee,  as  to 
the  "  causes  of  declension  "  in  Sabbath  observance,  opens  a  wide 
and  important  field  of  investigation.  Only  the  more  prominent 
influences  leading  to  this  result  can  be  noticed.  Among  these,  the 
most  radical  and  comprehensive  will  be  found  to  be 

Selfishness  and  Worldliness. — Men  in  all  branches  of  business  pur- 
sue their  avocations  with  almost  insane  intensity.  With  the  suc- 
cess and  expansion  of  business  plans,  time  grows  in  value.  The 
hours  of  the  day  are  not  enough  ;  those  of  sleep  are  trenched  upon. 
The  claims  of  family  and  home  must  succumb  to  the  demands  of 
business.  The  Lord's  day  intervenes,  with  its  holy  calm  and  its 
sacred  rest,  presenting  its  restraints  from  undue  engrossment  in 
worldly  plans,  and  its  repose  from  consuming  cares.  For  a  time 
its  beneficent  voice  is  heeded;  but  one  emergency  after  another 
arises,  when  holy  time  is  invaded — secretly  at  first ;  then  comes 
the  Sabbath  journey,  Sabbath  visiting.  Sabbath  letter  writing  ;  the 
posting  of  accounts,  the  plans  for  money-making,  directorship  in 
Sabbath-breaking  corporations;  and  thus  the  open  and  habitual 
desecration  of  a  day  once  reverenced  and  regarded. 

God  instituted  the  Sabbath  as  the  great  and  perpetual  barrier 
against  human  selfishness,  lie  gave  six  days  for  labor ;  but  by 
example  and  command,  set  apart  the  seventh  for  his  own  worship, 
and  as  a  beneficent  provision  for  the  refreshment  of  mind  and 
body  from  the  toils  of  the  week.  Time  immemorial  the  struggle 
has  been  going  on  between  the  selfishness  of  man,  coveting  for  its 
purposes  those  holy  hours,  and  the  restraining  providence  and  grace 
of  God  guarding  from  invasion  the  period  prescribed  for  man's  good 
and  the  divine  glor3^  If  there  be  with  us  a  seeming  and  tempor- 
ary triumph,  it  is  the  short-sighted  triumph  of  selfishness,  already 
rebuked  by  the  lessons  of  Providence  as  to  the  uncertain  tenure 


THE   SABBATH    IN   NEW    YOEK.  Ö 

of  ill-gotten  gain,  more  mortifying  than  defeat.  It  may  be  hoped 
that  even  worldly  wisdom  will  learn  the  great  truth  at  last,  that 
it  is  as  uiiprofdahle  as  it  is  wrong,  to  rob  God  of  the  time  that  belongs 
to  Him,  as  much  as  the  days  of  labor  belong  to  us. 

Another  fruitful  cause  of  the  declension  in  Sabbath  observance 
may  be  found  in  the  preoccupation  and  neglect  of  Christian  men. 
They  have  not  onl}-  shared  in  the  general  engrossment  in  business 
affairs,  but  their  attention  has  been  absorbed  by  other  reformatory 
enterprises,  which  have  blended  with  the  politics  of  the  country,  so 
that  the  interests  of  the  Sabbath  have  been  inadequately  guarded, 
and  its  desecration  has  come  to  be  so  common,  as  to  excite  little 
remark,  or  awaken  little  apprehension.  The  moral  atmosphere 
has  become  so  tainted,  that  jorofanations  which  would  have  shocked 
the  sensibilities  of  the  community  thirty  years  ago,  pass  unheeded. 
Or  the  evils  seem  so  prevalent  and  overwhelming,  as  to  induce 
despair  of  a  remedy.  Matters  of  remote  concern  or  of  doubtful 
claims  have  eclipsed  the  Decalogue  and  its  everlasting  rule  of 
right,  until  we  find  our  very  homes  enveloped  in  the  twilight  of 
incipient  barbarism  ;  the  whole  train  of  vices,  as  ever,  following 
close  on  the  heels  of  Sabbath  profanation.  A  just,  manly  and 
Christian  regard  for  the  Day  of  days,  on  the  part  of  its  friends, 
would  have  stayed  much  of  the  evil  we  now  deprecate. 

The  Sunday  press  has  alto  contributed  powerfully  to  the  dese- 
cration of  holy  time.  It  began  its  desolating  work  at  about  the 
period  of  the  repeal  of  our  municipal  Sabbath  ordinances,  and 
journal  after  journal  has  furnished  its  quota  of  influence  to  sweep 
away  our  Christian  Sabbath.  These  journals  are  believed  to  be 
doing  the  work  of  infidelity,  and  fostering  vice  and  irreligion. 
Not  content  with  the  rights  of  other  parties,  and  apparently 
regardless  of  the  feelings  of  the  Christian  community,  they  mono- 
polise the  public  streets,  and  disturb  the  quiet  home,  the  family 
devotions,  and  even  the  worship  of  the  sanctuary,  by  the  shrill 
cries  of  the  venders  of  their  sheets.  Instead  of  that  sacred  still- 
ness, which  is  the  voice  of  God  to  a  weary,  sinfid  world,  our  homes 
are  thus  filled  with  the  sounds  of  a  guilty  commerce,  and  with  the 
Sabbath  instructions  our  children  receive  are  mins;led  lessons  fi'om 
the  lips  of  ragged  newsboys.  From  hundreds  of  voices,  penetrat- 
ing all  our  abodes,  on  ever}-  Sabbath  day,  our  children  and  youth 
are  exhorted,  "  Eemember  not  the  Sabbath  to  keep  it  holy."  Can 
there  be  any  occasion  for  surprise,  then,  that  the  rising  generation 


6  THE  SABBATH   IN   NEW   YORK. 

are  fast  losing  their  reverence  for  all  authoritT,  human  and 
divine  ? 

In  this  connection  we  cannot  forbear  comment  on  the  singular 
anomaly  presented  in  the  fact  that  by  the  legislation  and  practical 
administration  of  government  of  the  metropolis  of  a  Christian  land, 
hundreds  of  ragged  urchins  perambulate  all  onr  streets;  making 
day  hideous  with  their  cries ;  preaching  a  crusade  against  the 
Fourth  commandment  in  the  unAvilling  cars  of  a  whole  city,  and 
encouraging  the  violation  of  every  other  by  their  Avares :  lohile  an 
attempt  to  j^reach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  tliose  ivJto  might  choose 
to  gather  in  any  public  square^  hy  any  C/trisiian  pastor,  without  the 
v)ritten  p)ermission  of  the  Mayor  or  some  one  of  our  aldermen,  icould 
he  a  misdemeanor  p^unishahle  hy  fine  or  imp>risonmeni ! 

The  extension  of  our  conunerce,  and  the  midtipilication  of  our  lines 
of  communication  zvilh  the  interior  of  the  country  have  had  a  ])0\ver- 
ful  tendency  to  overthrow  Sabbath  restraints,  and  to  make  it  a 
day  of  traffic.  Many  of  the  railroads  and  steamboat  companies 
carry  passengers  and  freight  to  and  from  the  city  on  the  Sabbath, 
as  on  other  days — though  with  less  frequent  trips  or  trains,  in  some 
instances.  Of  course  thousands  of  employees  must  be  robbed  of 
their  right  to  a  day  of  rest,  and  are  demoralized  at  the  same  time ; 
while  the  classes  jnost  needing  the  rest  and  restraints  of  the  Sab- 
bath are  tempted  to  leave  the  city  and  seelc  haunts  of  dissipation 
in  the  environs.  The  volume  of  business,  too,  rolling  on  through 
every  day,  draws  with  it  the  thoughts  of  the  trader  and  shipper. 
Carmen,  hackmen,  keepers  of  hotels,  and  various  other  classes, 
are  engrossed  in  their  several  avocations  ;  and  to  them  the  enno- 
bling, refining  influence  of  Sabbath  hours  is  all  lost.  Material  in- 
terests obtrude  on  the  period  assigned  by  God  himself  for  attention 
to  the  intellectual  and  spiritual.  The  tramp  of  the  iron  horse 
crushes  out  the  Decalogue,  and  the  noise  of  the  steam  whistle 
drowns  the  voice  of  God. 

The  increase  of  European  travel  engenders  familiarity  with  the 
views  and  practices  of  the  continent,  and  induces  a  corresponding 
laxity  of  Sabbath  observance  among  multitudes  of  travelers  for 
business  or  pleasure.  A  few  months'  residence  at  Paris — with 
its  open  Louvre,  its  Sunday  military  reviews,  its  St.  Cloud  or 
Versailles  fountains,  its  Bois  de  Boulogne  drives,  and  its  general 
atmosphere  of  Sabbath  holiday  desecration,  is  frequently  enough 
to  weaken  if  not  obliterate  the  "prejudices"  of  an  American  edu- 


THE   SABBATH   IN   NEW   YORK.  7 

cation  ;  and  it  is  feared  that  too  many  return  from  that  seductive 
capital,  or  other  continental  cities,  with  serious  and  often  fatal 
injury  to  their  morals  and  piety. 

But  the  most  potent  cause  of  Sabbath  desecration  may  be  found 
in  the  immense  emigration  from  Europe.  It  appears  by  the  census 
of  1855,  that  of  the  entire  population  of  629,810,  no  less  than 
232,678  were  born  in  foreign  lands,  and  that  of  the  voters  there 
were  42,704  naturalized  aliens  to  46,113  native  born.  A  fraction 
of  the  whole  number  came  to  us  from  Sabbath-keeping  Scotland ; 
but  the  great  mass  have  emigrated  from  lands  where  the  Sabbath 
is  a  gay  holiday,  or  where  it  is  so  overlaid  by  fast  and  feast  days 
of  human  appointment,  as  to  be  practically  superseded  in  the 
respect  and  observance  of  the  people.  Congregating  here  in  swarms 
at  particular  localities ;  retaining  their  ideas  of  Sunday  as  a  day 
of  mirth  and  dissipation ;  finding  our  streets  in  the  possession  of 
newsboys  who  carry  on  a  traffic  in  a  manner  more  godless  than 
their  eyes  and  ears  were  accustomed  to  even  in  the  Avorst  capitals 
of  the  old  world ;  un  instructed  in  the  true  uses  and  divine  sanc- 
tions of  the  Lord's  Day ;  encouraged  to  license  by  the  general 
spirit  of  lawlessness,  contrasted  with  the  stricter  governments  of 
force  to  which  they  have  been  familiarised — is  it  strange  that  our 
emigrant  population  should  invade  an  American  and  a  divine  in- 
stitution they  do  not  understand  and  have  no  sympathy  with ;  or 
that  their  imported  views  and  example  should  weaken  the  senti- 
ment and  impair  the  jDOwer  of  our  Christian  Sabbath?  In- 
termingled with  our  church-going  population,  may  be  found 
dwellings,  where  the  piano  rings  forth  the  last  waltz,  or  the 
voice  recites  snatches  from  the  popular  opera ;  and  a  hundred 
neighboring  families  are  completing  their  foreign  education  under 
gratuitous  masters.  In  the  midst  of  a  gToup  of  decent  abodes,  the 
home  it  may  be  of  virtuous,  pious  mechanics,  a  German  dance-house 
is  set  up ;  and  the  Sunday  band  and  the  merry  dancers  continue 
their  sport  the  live-long  day,  and  fl\r  into  the  night.  A  citizen 
grows  weary  of  the  noise  and  dust  of  the  city,  and  seeks  a  resi- 
dence on  the  banks  of  one  of  our  noble  rivers  :  the  adjoining  place 
is  converted  into  a  "Tea-Garden,"  and  every  summer's  Sabbath 
is  made  the  resort  of  thousands  who  know  no  other  distinction  of 
days  than  that  which  admits  a  looser  rein  to  passion  and  pleasure. 

In  these  and  other  ways  the  element  of  our  population,  which 
contributes  so  much  to  its  material  prosperity,  becomes  a  bane  to 


8  THE   SABBATH   IN   NEW   YORK. 

its  higher  interests.  The  incursion  of  Goths  and  Vandals  could 
hardly  be  more  fatal  to  morals  and  religion.  The  whole  atmos- 
phere is  tainted  by  its  breath.  Many  parts  of  the  city  reek  with  its 
pollution.  Respect  for  law  is  waning  away.  Life  and  property  are 
becoming  insecure.  Misrule,  peculation  and  fraud  infest  our  gov- 
ernment. Crime  and  pauperism  lurk  in  our  streets.  Anarchy 
waits  for  our  doom.  Nor  need  it  wait  long.  Left  to  ourselves — 
the  restraints  which  divine  mercy  has  thrown  around  us  in  his 
Holy  Law  cast  off — what  can  we  expect  but  the  invariable  visita- 
tion of  the  Divine  Ruler  on  rebellious  cities  and  nations  ? 

The  Committee  have  thus  traced  "  the  liistor}^  of  Sabbath  ob- 
servance in  New  York,  with  its  present  condition,  and  the  causes 
of  declension."  It  is  a  sad  record.  We  fear  that  fuller  investiga- 
tion would  afford  but  little  increase  of  light  for  the  picture.  True, 
there  are  hundreds  of  Christian  churches,  whose  ministers  and 
worshipers  may  be  supposed  to  represent  the  strength  of  the 
Sabbath-loving,  Sabbath-keeping  host.  It  is  also  true,  perhaps, 
that  if  this  host  were  brought  face  to  face  with  the  multitudes  who 
contemn  the  law  of  God,  w'e  might  hope  for  victory,  through  the 
arm  of  Jehovah.  But  they  are  not  thus  brought.  We  have,  in- 
deed, our  Mission  Sabbath  and  Industrial  Schools,  and  our  city 
Tract  Mission,  and  kindred  evangelizing  ngencies,  of  more  or  less 
potency.  But  the  fact  remains  painfully  apparent,  that  the  salt 
that  might  save  is  too  commonly  in  vessels  of  self-preservation. 
The  leaven  that  ought  to  "leaven  the  whole  lump"  is  put  in  bags 
far  from  the  mass  that  needs  its  leavening  power.  The  host  that 
might  conquer  is  in  barracks,  while  the  enemy  stalks  abroad  with 
brazen  and  unterrified  front.  Shall  not  the  requisite  measures  be 
taken  to  arouse  the  intelligent  Christian  community  to  the  evils 
and  the  perils  of  the  existing  state  of  things  ?  We  would  express 
the  earnest  hope  that  no  time  may  be  lost  in  devising  and  applying 
an  adequate  remedy,  so  that  our  reproach  may  be  wiped  away,  and 
that,  in  the  language  of  good  old  Peter  Stuyvesant,  we  may  "pre- 
vent the  curse  of  God,  instead  of  his  blessing,  fldling  upon  us  and 
our  good  inhabitants." 


'-1^ 


RAILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH. 


>i  *  •  »  '< 


1.  Statistics  of  Sunday  TraflSc  on  Railroads  &  Canals ; 

2.  The  Moral  Influence  of  Railroads ; 

3.  Economical  Motives  for  Sabbath  Observance ; 

4.  Religious  and  Civil  Relations  of  the  Sabbath. 

».  •  •  *  ■< 


SECOND     DOCUMENT 


NEW   YORK   SABBATH   COMMITTEE. 


1858. 


NEW  YOUK: 
PRINTED    BY   EDWARD   0.   JENKINS, 


No.  26  FEANKFOET  6TEEET. 


'TIfTfltl 


RAILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH. 

The  Committee  would  make  grateful  mention  of  the  courtesy  of 
the  officers  of  the  various  Railroad  and  Canal  Companies,  to  whom 
they  have  applied  for  information  respecting  their  Sabbath  arrange- 
ments. An  examination  of  the  facts  thus  gathered  from  authentic 
sources  will  show,  that,  while  some  forms  of  desecration  on  our 
thoroughfai'es  remain  to  be  deprecated,  an  important  advance  has 
been  made  by  many  of  the  companies  in  diminishing  their  Sunday 
trains,  and  that  several  of  them  have  found  it  to  their  advantage 
wholly  to  suspend  their  Sunday  traffic.  It  will  be  seen  that  higher 
motives  than  those  of  interest  have  influenced  this  result,  as  would  be 
expected  from  the  character  and  standing  of  the  parties  concerned  ; 
and  further  changes  in  favor  of  cessation  from  secular  toil  may  be 
reasonably  expected,  as  the  relations  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  respon- 
sibilities of  influential  corporations  are  more  fully  considered.  It  is, 
then,  in  the  spirit  of  kindness  and  hope  that  the  Committee  would 
attempt  a  brief  analysis  of  the  information  procured,  and  make  such 
suggestions  as  seem  pertinent  to  the  diflScult  and  important  subject 
referred  to  them. 

The  scope  of  present  inquiry  embraces  only  the  lines  of  communi- 
cation diverging  from  the  City  of  New  York,  or  immediately  con- 
nected with  its  business, — the  great  arteries  of  commerce,  through 
which  travel  and  traffic  and  moral  influences  perpetually  flow  : 
omitting  in  this  document  the  discussion  of  the  City  Raih'oad  ques- 
tion.    The  leading  facts  of  the  several  corporations  are  as  follows  : 

The  New  York  and  New  Haven  Railroad  Company,  forming  a  part 
of  the  great  mail  route  from  Boston  to  New  Orleans,  "  send  out  a 
single  train  (with  the  mail)  at  six  o'clock  p.m.,  on  Sunday,  with  a 
passenger  car  attached,  and  take  only  those  persons  who  must  go, 
on  account  of  sickness  or  death,  or  any  urgent  matter  that  compels 
them  to  travel  in  that  train."  "  The  whole  number  of  passengers 
who  rode  in  that  train  in  January  last  Avas  seventy-four,  though 
there  were  five  Sundays  in  the  month  ;"  "and  the  month  previous 
■  but  sixty-five — averaging  say  fifteen  passengers  per  Sunday."  The 
average  number  of  passengers  each  Sunday  in  1856,  was  thirteen^ 
and  in  1857  it  was  seventeen — making  the  general  average  for  two 
years  fifteen.  The  train  leaving  Boston  on  Sunday  night  at  8  o'clock 
does  not  reach  the  New  Haven  road  until  early  Monday  morning. 
The  number  of  passengers  by  that  train  is  about  the  same  as  from 
New  York. 

This  experience  on   one  of  the  most  frequented   of    our   great 


4  RAILROADS  AND  THE   SABBATH. 

thorouglifares  is  of  great  value,  as  furnishing  an  impartial  test  of 
the  proportion  of  public  travel  rendered  necessary  by  the  various 
emergencies  of  "  sickness  or  death,  or  any  urgent  matter  that  com- 
pels" the  use  of  sacred  hours.  The  usual  daily  average  of  passen- 
gers conveyed  on  this  road  exceeds  three  thoxisand  (3,292,)  or 
1,030,591  per  annum.  The  average  on  Sunday  \sjiflcen,  or  less  than 
the  one  half  of  one  'per  cent,  of  the  ordinary  daily  communication.  Do 
not  these  facts  demonstrate  that  onhj  the  merest  fraction  of  Sunday 
travel  is  necessary,  and  therefore  right  ? 

Taking  these  data,  in  their  bearing  on  the  plea  of  humanity  for 
Sunday  Railroad  accommodation,  and  in  connection  with  the  fact 
that  about  as  many  men  are  robbed  of  their  day  of  rest  in  the  care 
of  the  train  as  are  conveyed  by  it  a  few  hours  earlier  on  errands  of 
necessity  or  mercy,  and  the  preponderance  of  humane  motives  would 
seem  to  be  on  the  side  of  Sabbath-keeping  :  more  especially  when 
we  take  into  account  the  peace  and  comfort  of  probably  thrice  as 
many  sick  and  dying  along  the  line  as  are  benefited  by  the  visits 
of  Sunday  travelers — to  say  nothing  of  the  rights  and  morals  of  the 
million,  and  the  offending  or  hardening  of  consciences  all  along  the 
roadway.  Are  not  these  facts  entitled  to  the  careful  consideration 
of  other  Boards  of  Directors,  in  their  humane,  as  well  as  their  eco- 
nomical aspects  ? 

The  Harlem  Railroad  Company,  with  a  large  freighting  and  pas- 
senger business,  run  no  passenger  trains  on  the  Sabbath  on  tlieir 
main  line,  and  but  a  single  freight  train  :  and  this,  if  we  rightly 
interpret  the  returns,  for  the  transportation  of  milk  alone.  The 
change  in  this  respect  is  understood  to  afford  great  satisfaction 
along  the  line,  and  it  may  be  hoped  will  be  permanent.  On  the  city 
road,  however,  the  Company  employ  sixty-five  men,  and  convey  an 
average  of  11,566  passengers  a  month,  on  Sundays. 

The  Hudson  River  Railroad  Company,  after  an  experiment  of  the 
opposite  policy,  which  their  best  friends  deprecated  and  deemed  dis- 
astrous, have  discontinued  both  their  passenger  and  freight  trains  ; 
"  employ  no  men,  receive  no  money,  and  transact  no  business  on  Sun- 
day." The  only  qualification  to  tliis  gratifying  statement  is  in  the 
arrangement  by  which  a  freiglit  train  arrives  about  six  o'clock  on 
Sunday  morning.  With  this  exception,  it  is  represented  that  their 
fifteen  hundred  employes  have  their  weekly  season  of  repose  :  not 
a  wheel  moves,  not  a  whistle  screeches,  to  break  in  upon  the  Sab- 
bath stillness.  Their  4,000  daily  patrons  have  occasion  to  rejoice  in 
the  increasing  prosperity  and  safety  of  the  road  ;  and  its  bond  and 


RAILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH.  5 

stock  holders  will  be  more  than  content  with  the  simiiltaneoiis  in- 
crease of  receipts  and  diminution  of  expenditures  under  a  Sabbath 
keeping  regime. 

The  Long  Island  Railroad  Company  run  no  Sunday  trains,  with 
the  exception  of  one  for  the  transportation  of  milk,  which  reaches  and 
stops  at  Bedford  about  9  o'clock  a.m. 

The  Erik  Railroad  Company  "  run  three  trains  over  the  whole  length 
of  the  road  at  this  season  of  the  year  (March),  and  four  local  or 
way  trains,  each  way,  over  portions  of  tlie  road,  six  days  in  the 
week,  with  an  average  number  of  passengers  (through  and  way)  of 
about  3,000.  Only  one  passenger  train  leaves  New  York  on  Sunday, 
and  that,  carrying  the  mail,  leaves  at  5  P.  M.  No  train  leaves  Dun- 
kirk on  Sunday  ;  but  the  train  that  leaves  on  other  days  at  4.25  V. 
M.  leaves  Hornelsville  for  New  York  at  10.25  Sunday  night.  The 
train  leaving  Dunkirk  Saturday  afternoon,  runs  through  to  New 
York,  arriving  Sunday  forenoon.  No  way  passenger  trains  run  on 
any  part  of  the  road  on  Sunday.  The  number  of  passengers  leav- 
ing New  York  on  the  Sunday  train  is  very  small,  and  the  whole 
number  carried  is  not  more  than  one  twentieth  of  the  number  carried 
on  other  days. 

"  The  average  number  of  freight  trains  moving  daily  on  all  parts 
of  the  road  varies  according'  to  the  business  and  the  season  of  the 
year,  from  thirty  to  fifty.  No  freight  is  received  or  sent  from  New 
York  on  Sunday,  From  Piermont  two  trains  leave  for  the  West ; 
and  from  Dunkirk  a  cattle  train  leaves  for  New  York  on  Sunday. 
No  way  freight  trains  are  run  on  any  part  of  the  road  on  Sunday. 
A  milk  train  leaves  Otisville  Sunday  evening  and  arrives  at  midnight. 
No  freight  is  delivered  on  Sunday,  and  consequently  no  money  is 
collected  on  that  day  for  freight  transportation. 

"  The  whole  number  of  persons  in  the  emplo}''  of  the  company  in 
all  capacities  averages  about  4,000  ;  of  these  about  1,500  are  em- 
ployed as  conductors,  engineers,  &c.,  in  running  the  trains.  The 
number  of  men  employed  on  Sunday  is  just  as  much  less  than  on 
other  days,  as  the  number  of  trains  run  is  less.  No  freight  being 
received  or  delivered  at  any  of  the  stations  on  Sunday,  consequently 
the  laborers,  clerks,  &c.,  are  not  employed  on  that  day. 

"  Our  Board  of  Dii'ectors  have  recently  adopled  a  resolution  that  all 
Sunday  labor  on  the  docks  in  New  York  and  at  Piermont  be  discontimied, 
except  such  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  pcrservation  of  property." 

The  intelligent  and  obliging  officer  of  the  road  who  kindly  com- 
municated the  foregoing  facts,  further  writes  : 

"Allow  me  to  add  that  the  necessity  of  running  freight  trains  on 
Sunday  on  our  road,  grows  out  of  the  competition  with  other  lines 
leading  to  the  West.  Merchants  will  ship  their  goods  by  the 
quickest  line,  and  the  delay  of  twenty-four  hours  on  one  road  would 
turn  from  it  a  large  portion  of  its  business.  None  of  the  roads 
leading  from  New  York,    so   far   as  I   know,   receive  freight   for 


6  RAILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH. 

transportation  on  Sunday  ;  but  I  am  confident  if  it  were  known  that 
goods  received  on  Saturday  would  not  be  forwarded  by  the  Bri« 
road  till  Monday,  we  should  get  very  few  on  tiiat  day,  and  shippers 
forwarding-  their  goods  by  another  route  on  Saturday,  would  be 
likely  to  do  the  same  on  all  other  days.  The  remedy  for  this  lies 
with  the  merchants  and  Railroad  companies. 

May  it  not  be  hoped  that  the  "merchants  and  the  Railroad  com- 
panies" will  seek  a  "remedy"  in  a  direction  consistent  with  their 
true  intex'ests,  and  with  the  rights  of  the  hard-working  operatives  in 
their  service  ? 

TiTE  New  York  Central  Railroad  Company  start  no  passenger  trains 
on  Sunday,  but  trains  which  leave  either  end  of  the  road  on  Saturday 
evening  go  through.  "  Freight  trains  are  run  as  little  as  possible 
on  Sunday ;  but  when  there  is  a  press  on  the  road  they  are  often 
run  from  the  actual  necessity  of  getting  them  out  of  the  way." 
Such  is  the  statement  of  the  respected  officer  of  the  road  in  reply  to 
o\ir  inquirie-s,  who  adds  : 

"I  have  uniformly  opposed  Sunday  trains  on  our  line.  The  men 
require  the  repose  of  Sunday,  and  are  fairly  entitled  to  a  day  of  rest. 
They  work  the  better  far  it  during  the  toeek.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
great  body  of  the  passengers  wiio  would  go  on  Sunday,  if  the  trains 
were  running,  go  on  Saturday  or  Monday  if  the  road  is  closed  on 
Sunday.  The  Company  is  the  gainer  by  this.  I  have  always  urged 
these  reasons,  independent  of  the  higher  law  which  miglit  be  ap- 
pealed to  when  discussing  this  subject.  *  *  *  The  proper  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath  is  of  great  importance  to  this  country.  The 
perpetuity  of  our  institutions  depends  upon  the  moral  character  of 
the  people  ;  and  that  cannot  be  tally  developed  and  maintained 
without  the  aid  of  the  Sabbath." 

If  views  thus  sound  and  practical  come  to  pervade  the  Board  of 
Direction  of  this  immense  Company,  as  we  trust  they  may,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  it  would  not  be  long  before  "  the  actual  necessity"  of 
moving  a  wheel  on  the  sacred  day  would  be  very  infrequent  ;  or 
before  it  would  be  found  "possible"  to  "do  all  thy  work"  in  "six 
days." 

The  New  Jersey  Railroad  and  Tr4.nsportation  Company  (extending 
from  Jersey  City  to  New  Brunswick,)  "run  an  evening  train  only 
on  Sunday,  leaving  New  York  at  six  p.m.,  and  New  Brunswick 
about  eight  o'clock  p.m.  This  train  is  however  so  crowded  with 
way  passengers,  especially  in  summer,  that  the  Company  have  been 
obliged  to  run  a  way  relief  train,  about  the  same  hour,  between 
Jersey  City  and  Newark.  The  average  number  of  passengers  on 
Sunday  is  about  100  through,  and  400  to  and  from  Newark,  &c.  No 
freight  trains  are  run  on  Sunday  ;  eight  freight  trains  run  each  way 


RAILROADS   AND   THE   SABBATH.  7 

on  secular  days.  The  daily  receipts,  other  than  Sundays,  are  about 
$3,000  ;  on  Sunday  about  $300.  The  average  number  of  employes 
is  about  121  ;  on  Sunday  evening-,  32. 

"  The  N.  J.  R.  R.  &  T.  Co.  never  run  their  regular  way  trains  on 
Sunday  ;  and  about  twelve  years  ago,  they  prevailed  on  the  Post- 
master-General to  dispense  with  tlip  Sunday  morning  mail  line, 
which  then  left  New  York  and  Philadelphia  at  nine  o'clock  a.m.  on 
Sundays,  and  carried  about  as  many  passengers  as  the  present 
evening  mail  line. 

"  Our  Company,"  continues  the  respected  Vice-President,  "felt  it 
their  duty  to  conform  to  the  wishes  of  the  community  through  which 
their  road  passes,  and  used  strong  efforts  to  secure  the  withdrawal 
of  the  morning  mail  line  :  and  they  are  2->crf€dhj  satisfied  with  its 
results,  regarding  its  omission  as  conducioe  to  the  true  interests  of  the 
Company,  in  the  increased  efficiency  of  their  operatives  and  equipments, 
and  the  diminished  liability  to  accidents,  by  not  overworking  the  men, 
machinery  and  road,  htt  giving  to  all  one  day  of  rest.'" 

The  Camden  and  Asiboy  Railroad  Company  run  two  passenger 
trains  daily,  and  two  freight  trains  with  passenger  cars  attached. 
No  trains  for  passengers  or  freight  are  run  on  Sunday,  and  no  men 
are  employed  on  that  day.  But  the  trains  leaving  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  at  5  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening  arrive  at  each  end  of 
the  line  early  on  Sunday  mcu'ning.  It  would  seem  to  be  feasible  to 
start  those  trains  earlier  on  Saturday,  to  avoid  even  this  partial  en- 
croachment on  tlie  hours  of  the  Sabbath. 

The  New  Jersey  Central  Railroad  Company  run  eight  daily  pas- 
senger trains  and  an  equal  number  of  freight  trains,  on  tlic  secular 
days  of  the  week,  employing  431  men,  and  with  daily  receipts  of 
about  $2,000  ;  but  all  business  is  suspended  en  the  Sabbath.  The  men 
enjoy  their  weekly  rest,  and  the  villages  along  the  route  are  undis- 
turbed in  their  Sabbath  quiet. 

The  Morris  and   Essex  Railroad  Company  run  no  Sabbath  trains. 

CANALS. 

The  canals  in  the  State  of  New  York  have  an  aggregate  length 
of  about  900  miles.  The  number  of  persons  emploj-ed  on  these 
works  as  collectors,  forwarders,  boatmen,  drivers,  &c.,  is  estimated 
at  25,000  ;  the  number  of  boats  5685,  and  the  number  of  horses 
12,000.  It  has  been  stated  that  of  the  whole  number  of  persons  thus 
employed,  some  6000  are  minors,  many  of  whom  are  orphan  hoys. 

So  far  as  is  known,  the  business  of  the  State  canals  is  carried  for- 
ward on  the  Sabbath  without  intermission,  as  on  other  days.  The 
Locks  are  all  opened  on  that  day  as  usual,  and  a  population  equal  to 
one-fourth  of  the  entire  group  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  pursues  its 
demoralizing  traffic  through  the  heart  of  a  populous  Christian  State, 
under  cover  of  the  laws  of  that  State  1 


8  liAlLROADS   AND  THE   SABBATH. 

We  arc  happy  in  being  able  to  present,  in  contrast  with  this  legal- 
ized profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  the  voluntary  provisions  of  a  pri- 
vate corporation,  whose  directors  have  had  the  wisdom  and  the  firm- 
ness to  close  their  Locks  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  suspend  all  busi- 
ness on  their  line  during  consecrated  hours. 

The  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  employ  1125  boats  in 
the  transportation  of  coal,  and  100  in  freighting  miscellaneous  arti- 
cles, merchandise,  &c.  They  are  all  prohibited  from  running  on  the 
Sabbath.  An  aggregate  of  about  four  thousand  persons  are  engaged 
on  the  canal  during  the  boating  season.  The  opportunities  for  moral 
improvement  are  such  as  are  found  in  the  schools  and  churches  of 
the  different  towns  and  villages  through  which  the  canal  passes,  and 
in  the  labors  of  a  missionary  employed  and  paid  by  the  Company. 
His  labors  consist  in  the  distribution  of  tracts  and  Bibles,  personal 
intercourse  and  conversation  with  boatmen,  and  preaching  to  them 
on  the  Sabbath.  The  Directors  believe  that  the  closing  of  the  Locks 
has  had  a  very  beneficial  influence  on  the  morals  and  deportment  of 
the  boatmen,  and  on  the  population  along  the  line  of  the  canal. 

The  esteemed  President  adds  to  this  important  testimony  :  "You 
will  perceive  that  we  cannot  give  very  satisfactory  answers  as  to 
the  effect  of  Sabbath  labor  on  man  or  beast,  because  we  have  had  so 
little  experience.  We  believe  it,  however,  to  be  highly  pernicious 
to  both.  When  we  closed  our  Locks,  (say  23  years  ago,)  objections 
were  made  to  it,  and  some  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  was  manifested, 
both  by  boatmen  and  the  population  along  the  line  of  the  canal. 
Biit^  1  have  no  doubt  the  fecVing  would  now  be  much  stronger  against  a 
'proposition  to  open  the  Locks  on  the  Sabbath." 

The  Delaware  and  Karitan  Canal  Company  close  their  Locks  and 
bridges  every  Saturday  night  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  open  them 
again  directly  after  twelve  o'clock  on  Sunday  night.  Between  nine 
hundred  and  a  thousand  boats  navigate  the  canal,  and  from  5000 
to  6000  boatmen,  raftmen,  drivers,  and  others  are  immediately  con- 
nected with  the  business  of  the  canal.  All  work  ceases  on  the 
Sabbath. 

From  the  intcrestiwg  letter  of  the  Cashier  of  the  Company  we 
learn,  that  "  the  influence  of  Sabbath  observance  has  been  good  on 
the  boatmen,  and  on  the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  the  canal. 
The  most  intelligent  of  the  captains— all  of  them,  indeed,  with  a 
single  exception — state  that  the  stoppage  of  labor  on  the  Sabbath 
has  worked  well,  and  is  highly  beneficial  in  a  physical  point  of  view 
to  all  the  force — captains,  men,  drivers,  and  horses.  In  some  in- 
stances, more  trips  have  been  made  during  the  year — and  I  have 
heard  of  none  making  less — than  when  work  was  carried  on  during 
the  Sabbath." 

After  stating  the  history  of  the  efforts  for  securing  the  law  by 


EAILROADS  AIJD  THE   SABBATH.  9 

wliich  the  canals  in  New  Jersey  are  closed  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and 
of  the  efforts  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  boatmen,  the  cashier  adds 
the  following  : 

"  The  receipts  of  the  company  at  their  office  (Princeton),  where 
almost  the  entire  toll  is  paid,  for  the  years  1852  and  1853,  compared 
with  those  of  1856  and  1851 — two  years  under  each  system — show 
an  INCREASE  OF  ONE  THIRD  Under  the  plan  of  a  due  olservance  of  tlie 
Sabbath,  as  appears  from  the  State  Director's  Report  for  these 
years." 

We  regret  to  state  that  many  of  the  boats  which  have  passed  the 
Locks  at  New  Brunswick  on  Saturday  are  taken  in  tow  by  steamers 
and  brought  to  New  York  on  the  Sabbath.  Would  not  the  manifold 
benefits  of  Sabbath  observance  on  the  canal,  be  experienced  by  a 
like  regard  for  sacred  laws  on  the  bays  and  in  the  harbor  of  the 

metropolis  ? 

REVIEW   OP  FACTS. 

A  review  of  the  facts  thus  grouped  would  seem  to  show  that — 

Sunday  trains  are  unprofitable.  Whatever  exceptions  may  exist  on 
short  city  or  suburban  railways,  it  is  clear  that  the  legitimate  busi- 
ness of  a  road  or  canal  may  all  be  done  in  six  days,  with  the  econo- 
my of  labor,  machinery,  etc.,  of  one  day.  The  testimony  of  some  of 
the  most  influential  managers  of  these  companies  is  explicit  on  this 
point ;  and  experiment,  in  one  instance  extending  over  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  accompanied  by  almost  unprecedented  prosperity,  would 
appear  to  be  conclusive.  It  is  believed  that  the  experience  of  the 
companies  in  New  England,  nearly  all  of  which  keep  the  Sabbath,  will 
confirm  this  position.  Corporations,  as  well  as  individuals,  find  that 
in  keeping  the  Commandments  of  the  Lord  "  there  is  great  reward." 

Sunday  trains  are  unnecessary.  Humanity  does  not  claim  them,  as 
is  shown  by  the  instructive  facts  of  the  N.  Y.  &  N.  H.  E..  R.  Compa- 
ny. Commerce  can  dispense  with  them  :  it  can  well  be  content  with 
the  amazing  increase  of  facilities  for  the  transportation  of  manufac- 
tures, merchandise,  and  the  products  of  the  earth,  as  compared  with 
other  days;  andean  afford  to  let  every  wheel  stand  still  one  seventh 
part  of  the  time,  as  a  security  for  the  gains  of  the  remaining  six  days. 
The  correspondence  of  the  country,  already  expedited  with  five  or 
ten-fold  rapidity  as  contrasted  with  the  days  of  stage-coaches  and 
post-riders,  may  forego,  without  essential  loss,  the  Sunday  mail  and 
the  demoralization  of  Government  employes  which  hazards  remit- 
tances by  post, — especially  since  the  Telegraph  affords  the  means  of 
instant  communication  with  distant  correspondents  in  all  cases  of 
emergency.    The  fact  that  in  the  great  metropolis  of  the  world  aJI 


10  RAILROADS   AND   THE   SABBATH. 

post-office  business  on  the  Sabbath  has  been  given  up,  for  years,  fa- 
vors the  view  that  the  invasion  of  sacred  time  by  Postal  arrange- 
ments cannot  be  necessary.  What  interest,  then,  compels  the  use 
of  these  thoroughfares  on  the  Lord's  day  ? 

But  if  Sunday  trains  are  not  necessary,  are  they  right  7  The  laws 
of  the  State  only  except  from  their  prohibitions  of  labor  on  the  first 
day  of  the  week  works  of  "  charity  and  necessity."  Their  whole 
spirit  is  opposed  to  secular  toil  on  that  day.  Is  it  too  much  to  claim 
that  the  potent  example  of  great  companies,  extending  their  lines  of 
communication  in  every  direction  over  the  State,  shall  not  be  em- 
ployed so  as  to  bring  its  laws  into  contempt,  or  so  as  to  weaken  the 
moral  restraints  essential  to  the  peace  and  well-being  of  its  citizens  ? 
But,  all  human  laws  aside,  the  unrepealed  statutes  of  Heaven  fur- 
nish the  unerring  standard  of  right  for  men  and  for  associations  of 
men  :  and  we  see  not  how,  in  view  of  their  requirements,  to  vindi- 
cate any  systematic  and  unnecessary  arrangements  for  secular  busi- 
ness seven  days  in  a  week.  In  the  long  run,  we  cannot  believe  such 
business  will  have  the  blessing  of  Heaven.  The  general  remark  of 
Chancellor  Frelinghuysen  must  have  specific  applications — "  God  has 
written  the  solemn  truth  on  the  whole  line  of  His  Providence,  as 
well  as  on  the  pages  of  His  word,  that  the  people  who  despise  His 
Sabbaths  must  suffer  His  frowns." 

THE    MORAL    INFLUENCE  OF  RAILROADS. 

The  Railroad  interest  has  become  one  of  the  most  important  in 
the  financial  and  commercial  world.  Stretching  its  net-work  of 
intercommunication  over  our  broad  land  ;  absorbing  nearly  a  thous- 
and millions  of  dollars  of  capital  ;  employing  tens  of  thousands  of 
our  population  —  its  influence  on  the  character  of  the  country 
has  come  to  bear  some  proportion  to  that  it  exerts  on  its  business 
and  wealth.  As  a  civilizer,  the  power  of  Railways  can  hardly 
be  over-estimated.  The  snort  of  the  iron  horse  as  he  rushes  through 
the  forest,  or  over  the  prairie,  or  along  the  valley,  wakes  the  indo- 
lent to  effort,  and  breaks  in  upon  the  stupor  of  hopeless  isolation. 
Our  enterprising  settlers  gather  along  the  line  of  the  newly-opened 
thoroughfare,  as  in  other  days  on  river-banks  ;  and  villages  spring 
up  around  the  stations  as  if  by  magic,  with  many  of  the  appli- 
ances of  Christian  civilization.  Thousands  of  such  communities 
already  exist,  and  contribute  their  quota  to  the  tide  of  national 
prosperity  and  greatness, — where  not  a  habitation  would  have  been 
found  but  for  the  iron  road  and  the  locomotive.  All  honor  to  the 
enterprizc  that  has  planned  and  executed  these  gigantic  monuments 
of  the  wealth  and  industry  of  the  United  States ! 


RAILROADS  AND  THE   SABBATH.  11 

The  moral  iiißucnce  of  the  Railroad  system  is  a  matter  of  immense 
moment.  If  it  be  made  the  channel  for  the  diffusion  of  a  corrupt  and 
debasing-  literature;  or  the  means  of  training  a  multitude  in  its 
service  and  along  its  lines  of  communication  in  habits  of  godless- 
ness  ;  or  if  it  become  the  medium  of  invading  the  hours  of  sacred 
repose  guaranteed  by  the  laws  of  Grod  and  man  to  the  communities 
bordering  upon  its  thoroughfares — then  will  its  pecuniary  and  com- 
mercial advantages  furnish  an  inadequate  offset  to  the  injuries  it 
will  inflict  on  interests  of  infinitely  higher  concern.  Valuable  as 
the  Locomotive  may  be — it  is  less  valuable  than  the  Decalogue  ; 
and  if  it  cannot  do  its  appointed  work  without  running  over  "  the 
tables  of  stone,"  it  were  better  that  it  never  run  at  all. 

It  is  believed  that  the  tendency  of  the  Eailroads  of  the  country, 
under  proper  regulations,  would  be  greatly  to  diminish  the  amount 
of  intemperance,  Sabbath-breaking  and  kindred  vices.  Multitudes 
of  animals  employed  on  stage  routes,  with  their  army  of  drivers, 
ostlers  and  hotcl-keepei^,  are  already  freed  from  the  exhausting  Sab- 
bath service  of  other  days.  The  increased  ease  and  rapidity  of  com- 
munication takes  away  the  excuses  for  Sabbath  traveling  of  many 
who  have  long  distances  to  go  by  land  or  water,  and  for  the  use  of 
stimulants  to  restore  over-taxed  powers.  The  arrangements  of 
many  companies  for  the  exclusion  of  intoxicating  drinks  at  refresh- 
ment houses,  and  for  entire  rest  on  the  Lord's  day,  contribute  to 
good  morals.  And  to  a  greater  extent  than  is  commonly  supposed, 
all  needful  mail  facilities  being  furnished  by  six  days  of  Railroad 
communication,  the  Post-office  authorities  and  the  Railroad  compa- 
nies have  found  it  alike  for  their  interest  to  suspend  Sunday  mail 
trains.  May  it  not  be  hoped  that,  ere  long,  the  combined  dictates 
of  interest  and  duty  will  prompt  to  the  consummation  of  this  volun- 
tai-y  and  beneficent  reform  :  so  that  as  the  sun  rises  on  our  New 
England  hills,  and  gilds  our  central  States  with  his  morning  beams, 
and  pours  his  meridian  splendor  on  the  basin  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
sheds  his  declining  rays  on  the  Pacific  slope,  over  our  broad  conti- 
nent he  shall  look  down  each  seventh  day  on  commerce  in  repose  ; 
industry  renewing  its  vigor  ;  thoroughfares  without  a  train  or  a 
traveler  ;  "  Deep  calling  unto  deep" — the  Atlantic  unto  the  Pacific 
— "  This  is  the  day  the  Lord  hath  made,  we  will  rejoice  and  be 
glad  in  it ; "  and  a  grateful  nation  rendering  its  homage  to  "  the 
Lord  of  the  Sabbath." 

ECONOMICAL  MOTIVES  FOR  SABBATH  OBSERVANCE. 

Many  considerations  would  seem  to  prompt  to  the  entire  ceesation 


12  RAILROADS  AND  THE   SABBATH. 

of  secular  labor  ou  the  Sabbath  on  our  thoroughfares — other  than 
those  of  general  application.  They  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows  : 
The  interest  of  stockholders.  They  entrust  the  manageinent  of 
millions  of  money  to  other  parties.  The  immensity  of  the  trust  for- 
bids personal  oversight.  Confidence  must  be  a  large  element  in  such 
relations.  Conscience  is  relied  on  to  control  the  administration  of 
a  complicated  and  responsible  business.  But  what  security  can  the 
stockholder  have  for  the  right  employment  and  just  returns  of  his 
capital,  if  one  vital  principle  of  the  moral  law  is  systematically  dis- 
regarded ?  If  the  Fourth  Commandment  is  contemned,  has  he  any 
adequate  security  against  the  violation  of  the  eighth  ?  If  the  claims 
of  God  do  not  bind  the  conscience,  will  the  rights  of  men  fare  any 
better  ? 

The  security  oj" property  and  tlie  profilühlt  emj)Ioymcnt  of  capital  de- 
mand a  regard  for  the  Sabbath.  No  interest  is  more  dependent  on 
a  healthful  state  of  public  morals  than  liailroads.  Let  the  fear  of 
God  and  the  restraints  of  the  Sabbath  be  removed  from  a  community, 
and  private  malice  or  wantonness  would  soon  convert  a  Railway 
track  into  a  man-trap.  "Accidents"  —  wliolesale  assassinations 
would  follow  in  the  wake  of  general  demoralization.  And  human 
law  would  be  comparatively  powerless  for  the  protection  of  an 
extended  and  exposed  line  of  communication.  What  would  Railroad 
stock  be  worth  with  a  lawless  and  imbruted  population  along  the 
roadway  ?  Does  not  every  countenance  given  to  a  parent  evil  become 
suicidal,  in  such  a  view  ? 

The  discipline  of  a  Railroad  requires  a  day  of  religious  rest  for  the 
employes.  Prompt,  implicit  obedience,  forethought,  conscientious 
fidelity,  undeviating  honesty,  are  essential  requisites  on  the  part  of 
station-masters,  conductors,  and  all  parties  employed  on  our  thor- 
oughfares. How  many  trains  have  been  smashed,  and  how  many 
lives  lost,  by  an  unauthorized  change  of  five  minutes  in  the  time 
table,  or  by  the  careless  manipulation  of  a  switch  ?  But  how  can 
men  be  expected  to  regard  scrupulously  the  rights  of  others,  when 
their  own  right  to  a  seventh  part  of  time  for  physical,  intellectual, 
and  moral  improvement  is  denied  to  them  ?  AVhat  basis  is  there 
for  a  nice  sense  of  responsibility  when  the  moral  law  is  practically 
ignored  ?  Or  how  can  a  rigid  obedience  to  the  laws  of  a  corporation 
be  expected,  when  the  example  of  disobedience  to  a  divine  require- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  corporation  itself  is  habitual  and  conscious  ? 
What  security  can  there  be  for  the  honesty  of  the  employes  who 
violate  the  Sabbath,  or  what  certainty  that  the  gains  of  Sunday 


RAILKOADS   AND   THE   SABBATH.  13 

are  not  filched  from  the  earnings  of  other  days  ?  ["  I  should  never 
doubt  the  honesty,"  says  Judge  McLean,  "  of  a  man  who,  from  prin- 
ciple, keeps  the  Sabbath  day  holy."]  Or  how  can  the  powers  be 
fresh  and  vigorous,  so  as  to  meet  the  constant  emergencies  of  a 
perilous  service,  when  they  are  overtasked,  and  the  opportunities 
are  denied  for  recuperation  required  by  the  laws  of  being  and  the 
commandment  of  Heaven  ?  It  is  not  necessary  to  refer  to  the  direct 
Providence  of  God  in  explanation  of  the  frequent  disastrous  oc- 
currences connected  with  Sabbath-breaking  conveyances — though 
there  are  instances  enough  on  record,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  God's  care  for  His  day,  to  deter  a  believer  in  the  Bible 
from  trifling  with  holy  time.  An  adequate  cause  may  commonly  be 
found  in  the  carelessness,  or  stupidity,  or  false  judgment  of  men 
whose  moral  natures  lack  the  tonic  influence  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
whose  physical  and  mental  poAvers  have  been  weakened  by  pro- 
tracted and  unintermitted  tension. 

T/ie  safety  of  passengers  urges  a  regard  for  the  Sabbath.  The  esti- 
mation placed  on  human  life  is  one  of  the  best  tests  of  the  degree 
of  civilization  attained  by  a  nation.  Humanity  and  self-interest 
alike  prompt  to  the  lessening  of  all  liabilities  to  casualty  in  public 
conveyances.  But  with  men  and  machinery  tasked  to  their  utmost 
by  seven  days'  toil  in  a  week,  the  exposure  to  casualties  is  greatly 
increased,  as  we  have  shown,  and  in  that  proportion  the  patrons  of 
Railroads  are  imp(;riled  in  person  and  property.  The  pecuniary 
responsibility  of  Railroads,  in  the  nature  of  insurance  on  life,  is  im- 
mense at  best — so  heavy,  indeed,  as  to  deter  many  capitalists  from 
investing  in  such  securities  on  that  very  ground  :  but  how  is  it  en- 
hanced when,  to  all  other  liabilities,  is  superadded  that  caused  by 
contempt  for  a  natural  and  moral  law,  as  imperative  as  the  law  of 
gravitation  ? 

The  peace  and  good  morals  of  the  communities  through  which  our 
Railroads  pass  would  be  promoted  by  their  cessation  from  business  on 
the  Sabbath.  The  tendencies  toward  a  lax  observance  of  the  day 
are  strong  enough  to  press  hard  on  the  barriers  of  conscience  and 
habit,  in  every  community,  without  the  additional  motive  of  curi- 
osity to  witness  the  Sunday  arrivals  at  the  rail\ray  station,  and  the 
stir  and  bustle  of  omnibuses,  carriages,  porters,  hotel-keepers,  and 
the  corrupting  influences  too  often  clustering  around  a  railway 
depot.  There  are  causes  enough  of  diversion  from  the  appropriate 
duties  and  enjoyments  of  the  home  and  the  sanctuary,  without  the 
noise  of  trains  and  the  whistling  of  engines  on  the  day  of  rest. 
Every  household  has  a  right  to  the  quiet  and  repose  which  the  Sab- 


14  KÄILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH. 

bath  was  appointed  to  secure  ;  and  every  community  has  an  equal 
right  to  the  moral  safeguards  which  the  Sabbath  brings.  Self-inter- 
eet  may  not  sacrifice  these  rights  of  the  many  to  the  convenience  or 
profit  of  the  few.  A  corporation  may  not  over-ride  or  ignore  the 
religious  convictions  and  the  highest  interests  of  the  great  body  of 
the  people.  And  especially  may  the  suburban  population  protest, 
as  they  have  often  protested,  against  any  arrangements  by  which 
their  country  retirement  is  broken  up,  their  grounds  infested,  their 
gardens  and  orchards  robbed,  and  their  families  thrown  into  con- 
sternation by  the  Sunday  excursionists  poured  out  upon  them  in  the 
summer  season,  by  land  and  water.  The  gains  of  such  a  business 
will  be  poorly  compensated,  if  our  suburbs  are  made  so  dangerous 
and  unpleasant  as  to  prevent  respectable  citizens  from  establishing 
their  homes  there,  and  thus  cutting  off  a  considerable  and  inci'eas- 
iug  source  of  legitimate  revenue  from  our  Eailroads  and  Steam- 
boats. 

RELIGIOUS  AND   CIVIL  RELATIONS. 

But  we  have  too  much  respect  for  the  intelligence  and  moral  prin- 
ciple of  gentlemen  concerned  in  the  direction  of  our  Railroad  Cor- 
porations to  suppose  that  they  have  not  anticipated  us,  in  considering 
liigher  motives  than  those  of  interest  in  their  bearing  on  this  sub- 
ject. They  would  blush  to  be  thought  to  merge  their  individual  re- 
sponsibility in  their  corporate  relations,  and  to  ignore  religious  obli- 
gations by  the  plea,  that  "  corporations  have  no  souls."  They  de- 
voutly recognize  the  Supreme  Being  and  His  ruling  hand  in  other 
connections,  and  expect  to  give  up  their  individual  account  in  the 
final  day  for  these,  as  for  other  acts  of  earthly  stewardship.  And 
none  would  be  more  displeased  than  themselves  to  be  thought  inca- 
pable of  appreciating  the  motives  affecting  this  question,  drawn  from 
the  Word  and  Providence  of  God,  and  the  moral  and  religious  well- 
being  of  the  people. 

We  would,  then,  respectfully,  but  with  all  the  earnestness  of  men 
who  associate  the  Sabbath  with  the  creation  and  redemption  of  the 
world,  and  with  their  personal  hopes  and  future  prospects,  urge 
the  entire  cessation  af  needless  secular  labor  on  our  thoroughfares  en  the 
Christian  Sabbath  : 

Because  it  is  a  sacred  day.  The  Word  and  Example  of  God  have 
"  sanctified  it"  from  the  dawn  of  time.  "The  Decalogue  hallowed  it 
forever.  The  Saviour  of  the  world  confirmed  and  illustrated  its  uni- 
versal obligation  and  its  humane  intent,  in  divine  teachings  and  by 
miraculous  power.     Ilis  Resurrection  is  commemorated  by  it     It  is 


RAILROADS  AND  THE  SABBATH.  15 

"  the  LorcPs  day,^^  "  made  for  "  the  rest  and  worship  of  "  man."  He  who 
made  it  guards  it :  and  to  profane  it  is  to  contend  with  its  Author. 

It  is  a  blessed  day.  The  poor  profit  by  its  repose  :  the  rich  are  re- 
minded by  its  recurrence  of  their  stewardshrip.  It  comes  to  break  in 
upon  worldly  engrossment,  and  elevate  the  soul  to  purer  and  more 
ennobling  joys  than  earth  affords.  It  gives  to  the  family  its  period 
for  social  communion  and  religious  instruction  ;  it  invites  to  the 
Bible  and  the  Sanctuary,  and  the  preached  word ;  it  is  the  day  of 
destiny  to  millions  of  our  race  ;  it  is  the  type  of  Heaven.  Him  that 
keeps  it,  God  will  keep  :  he  who  desecrates  it,  tramples  on  one  of  his 
choicest  blessings. 

It  is  a  day  vital  to  the  prosperity  of  pure  religion.  The  world  over, 
the  prevalence  and  power  of  true  religion  may  be  measured  by  the 
degree  of  sacredness  with  which  the  Sabbath  is  observed.  So  that 
influences  tending  to  its  desecration  have  a  direct  bearing  antago- 
nistic to  man's  highest  interests,  and  to  the  well-being  of  society. 
Individual  hostility  to  the  Gospel  and  its  fundamental  institutions 
must  be  expected  :  but  the  friends  of  religion  have  a  right  to  de- 
mand that  the  commerce  and  wealth  of  the  country,  represented  in 
the  immense  corporations  they  have  created,  shall  not  be  employed 
in  breaking  down  the  barriers  by  which  vice  and  irreligion  are  held 
in  check,  or  in  weakening  and  destroying  the  very  institutions  to 
which  they  owe  a  large  measure  of  their  security  and  prosperity. 

It  is  a  day  of  paramount  importance  to  the  purity  and  perpetuity  of 
our  free  institutions.  Despots  may  find  their  account  in  converting 
the  Sabbath  into  a  holiday,  and  diverting  their  subjects  from  their 
miseries  by  pastimes  and  idle  sports.  But  the  sturdy  virtue  and 
self-discipline  necessary  to  a  successful  experiment  of  self-govern- 
ment, can  only  coexist  with  the  universal  respect  of  the  masses  for 
law,  human  and  divine.  The  influence  of  the  example  of  respecta- 
ble bodies  of  men  in  the  public  violation  of  the  Fourth  Command- 
ment, must  weaken  the  power  of  conscience  as  to  all  other  moral 
precepts.  Our  children  and  youth  are  liable  to  grow  up  with  a  fee- 
ble sense  of  moral  obligation,  and  with  inadequate  convictions  of 
parental,  governmental,  or  divine  authority.  Foreign  emigrants,  find- 
ing here  neither  the  restraints  of  law  nor  of  armies,  may  confound 
freedom  with  license,  and  undermine  and  deprave  the  very  institu- 
tions that  invite  and  shelter  them  ;  whereas,  a  manifest  and  invaria- 
ble regard  for  the  Law  of  the  Sabbath  on  all  our  lines  of  intercom- 
munication, would  serve  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  these  new  com- 
ers, and  on  the  population  along  their  borders,  the  great  lesson  that 
the  freedom  here  enjoyed  is  associated  with  the  voluntary  rccogni- 


16  RAILROADS  AND  THE   SABBATH. 

tion  of  Divine  Authority,  and  subordinated  to  the  Supreme  Ruler. 
The  question  "  whether  we  are  to  continue  to  be  a  Sabbath-keeping, 
virtuous,  free,  and  happy  people  ;  and  whether  out  blessings  are  to 
go  down  to  future  generations,  will  depend  much,  very  much,  upon 
the  question,  whether  our  numerous  Railroads  are  to  be  Sabbath- 
keeping  or  Sabbath-breaking  concerns." 

In  conclusion,  we  would  echo  the  truthful  and  eloquent  sentiments 
of  the  clergy  of  our  city  : 

"  The  day  of  holy  rest,  to  a  land  bearing  the  Christian  name,  and 
to  a  republic  based  on  equal  rights,  has  the  highest  Civil  Worth. 
Man  needs  it,  physically,  as  a  season  when  Labor  may  wipe  ofi'  its 
grime,  and  breathe  more  freely  after  a  week's  exhaustion,  and  when 
Care  shall  slacken  its  hold  upon  the  frame  and  the  heart.  Man  needs 
it,  morally,  to  rise  by  its  aid  out  of  engrossing  secularities  and  mate- 
rialism to  the  remembrance  of  his  spiritual  interests,  his  iinal  ac- 
count, and  his  eternal  destiny.  Toil  needs  it  to  rescue  its  share  of 
rest,  and  its  season  of  devotion  from  the  absorbing  despotism  of 
Capital  ;  and  Capital  needs  it,  to  shield  its  own  accumulations  from 
the  recklessness  and  anarchy  of  the  imbruted  and  the  desperate,  and 
to  keep  its  own  humanity  and  conscientiousness  alive.  The  Stale 
needs  it,  as  a  safeguard  of  the  public  order,  quiet  and  virtue  ;  hu- 
man laws  becoming,  however  wise  in  form,  effete  in  practice,  except 
as  they  are  based  upon  conscience  and  upon  the  sanctions  of  Eter- 
nity, as  recognized  voluntarily  by  an  intelligent  people  ;  and  God's 
day  cultivating  the  one  and  reminding  us  of  the  other.  And  in  a 
Republic  more  especially,  whose  liberties,  under  God,  inhere  in  its 
virtues,  the  recognition — freely  and  devoutly, — by  an  instructed  na- 
tion,— of  Gud's  paramount  rights  is  the  moral  underpinning  requisite 
to  sustain  the  superstructure  of  man's  rights  ;  and  without  such 
support  from  religion, — not  as  nationally  established,  but  as  person- 
ally and  freely  accepted, — all  human  freedom  finally  moulders  and 
topples  into  irretrievable  ruin." 

NORMAN  WHITE,  Cuairman, 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.D.  GEORGE  W.  LANE, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  HORACE  HOLDEN, 

JOHN  M.  BRUCE,  Jr.,  GEORGE  N.  TITUS, 

ROBERT  CARTER.  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 

WARREN  CARTER,  W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS,  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

E.  L.  FANCHER,  E.  C.  WILCOX, 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER,  F.  S.  WINSTON, 

DAVID  HOADLEY,  0.  E.  WOOD. 

Sabbath  Committee, 
JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,      Rec.  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Cor.  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Trcamrcr 

m"  OFFICE,  NO.  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW  YORK. 


NEWS-CRimO  AND  THE  SABBATH. 


1.  Memorial  of  Citizens. 

2.  Action  of  the  Municipal  Authorities. 

3.  The  Daily  Press  on  the  Memorial  and  its  Results. 

4.  The  Religious  Press  on  the  Memorial. 

5.  The  Sunday  Press  on  the  Memorial. 

[Third  Document  of  the  New  York  Sabbath  Committee.] 


Memorial  against  the  Crying  of  Newspapers  on  Sunday. 

To   the  Mayor  and  Police   Commissioners  of  New    York: 

Honored  Siks, — We  place  in  your  hands  herewith  a  copy  of  a  note  re- 
cently addressed  to  the  Proprietors  of  Sunday  Newspapers  in  this  city.  It 
would  afford  us  great  satisfaction  to  learn  that  the  nuisance  therein  re- 
monstrated against  has  been  voluntarily  abated.  Should  this  hope  be  dis- 
appointed, we  would  respectfully  invoke  the  intervention  of  the  constituted 
guardians  of  the  public  peace  and  morals,  to  deliver  our  over-worked 
citizens  from  the  disturbance  of  their  repose,  and  the  interruption  of  their 
public  and  private  devotions,  on  their  only  day  of  rest,  by  the  loud  crying 
and  illegal  sale  of  Sunday  papers. 

Beginning  with  the  occasional  sale  of  an  extra-journal — issued  on  the  ar- 
rival of  exciting  news  from  abroad — the  crying  of  newspapers  has  grown 
into  a  system,  extending  over  the  entire  city  ;  so  that,  on  Sunday  morning, 
several  hundred  boys  traverse  our  streets  again  and  again,  vociferating 
the  titles  of  a  large  number  of  journals,  tempting  to  the  purchase  by  an- 
nouncing their  contents  or  their  price,  and  transacting  their  business  with 
an  utter  disregard  for  the  rights  or  feelings  of  orderly  citizens,  or  for  the 
sacred  character  of  the  Lord's  day.  These  cries  are  so  loud  and  discord- 
ant as  to  forbid  sleep,  when  sleep  is  necessary  for  refreshment  after  a 
week  of  toil  ;  to  disturb  the  quiet  of  the  sick  room  ;  often  to  interrupt 
domestic  conversation  and  worship  ;  to  arrest  the  parent  or  the  Sabbath- 
school  teacher  when  imparting  religious  instruction  ;  and  even  to  disturb 
Christian  congregations  in  their  acts  of  solemn  worship. 

We  can  regard  this  nuisance  in  no  light  than  will  aiford  for  it  justifica* 


tion,  compensation,  or  even  apology.      No  public  interest  is  promoted  l)y 
it.     No  private  necessity  demands  it.     Other  methods  are  open  for  supply-- 
ing  the  patrons  of  the  Sunday  press.     And  there  arc  other  and  appropriate 
employments  for  the  boys  engaged  in  this  business  on  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath.    We  protest  against  the  evil,  then, 

1.  Because  it  is  a  school  of  vice  to  the  boys  engaged  in  it.  They  go 
forth  to  their  business  with  the  knowledge  that  they  are  defying  the  public 
sentiment,  and  outraging  the  feelings  of  all  Christian  families.  Their 
young  consciences  are  hardened,  and  their  character  depraved  by  the  very 
nature  of  their  occupation,  and  they  are  receiving  thus  a  training  for 
criminals  and  outlaws.  Then  their  Sunday  earnings  are  very  often  spent 
in  petty  gambling,  drinking,  or  in  vulgar  amusements.  To  a  great  extent, 
the  Sunday  newsboys  are  not  the  same  who  are  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
papers  during  the  week  ;  but  they  come  from  other  employments  that  they 
may  earn  the  means  of  attending  theatres,  or  of  enjoying  other  sources  of 
amusement  or  dissipation  on  Sunday  evenings.  Few  of  the  parents  of 
these  lads,  if  they  have  any,  are  benefited  by  their  Sunday  trade.  Surely 
the  petty  gains  of  the  newsboys  can  be  no  offset  to  the  debasing  influence 
of  their  traffic,  and  furnish  no  warrant  for  defying  the  rules  of  courtesy  and 
decency.  We  believe  the  good  of  these  children  requires  that  they  should 
be  restrained  from  their  demoralizing  Sunday  occupation. 

2.  The  evil  example  of  these  boys  is  disastrous  to  the  juvenile  popula- 
tion of  the  city.  Parental  restraints  are  feeble  enough  at  best,  where 
fathers  are  so  immersed  in  business  as  scarcely  to  see  their  children  dur- 
ing six  days  of  the  week  ;  and  when  the  Sabbath — "  the  poor  man's  day" 
— recurs,  the  heads  of  families  have  a  rig/d  to  its  aid  in  domestic  discipline 
and  instruction,  without  the  interposition  of  street  influences  unfriendly  to 
order,  morals,  or  religion.  The  teachers  of  Sabbath-schools,  numbering 
5,000  or  6,000,  may  well  claim  that  their  beneficent  labors  among  30,000 
children  shall  not  be  counteracted  by  a  few  hundred  urchins,  at  the  very 
time  of  their  gratuitous  and  self-denying  efforts.  The  tax-payers  of  the 
city,  and  voluntary  contributors,  who  bear  heavy  burdens  for  the  support 
of  Juvenile  Asylums,  Children's  Aid  Societies,  and  Public  and  Industrial 
Schools,  for  the  mental  and  moral  elevation  of  the  young,  may,  and  do 
complain  of  a  system  antagonistic  to  'all  these  indispensable  agencies  of 
good.  If  a  vital  precept  of  the  moral  law  be  openly  and  systematically 
disregarded  with  impunity  by  the  street  boys,  may  wc  not  cease  to  won- 
der at  the  growing  violation  of  other  statutes,  or  at  the  fearful  records  of 
juvenile  crime  in  our  city  ? 

3.  This  system  implies  an  unwarrantable  monopoly.  Nearly  every  class 
of  business  is  suspended  on  the  Lord's  day,  out  of  deference  to  public  sen- 
timent, or  from  motives  of  interest  or  duty.  The  spirit  of  our  laws  be- 
friends the  laboring  classes,  and  protects  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  needed 
repose.     By  almost  universal  consent  the  gains  of  one  day  are  foregone, 


that  health  and  happiness  for  both  worlds  may  be  cared  for.  But  if  one 
kind  of  secular  business  may  be  carried  forward,  why  not  all  kinds?  If 
boys  may  pervade  our  streets  on  Sunday  mornings  with  their  cries,  why 
may  not  men  traverse  the  same  streets  on  Sunday  afternoons  with  hand- 
organs  or  gongs  1  If  the  newsboy  may  cry  his  wares,  why  not  the  oyster- 
man  his  oysters,  and  the  dealers  in  wood,  charcoal,  fish,  brooms,  images, 
and  every  thing  else,  pursue  their  noisy  traflSc,  and  thus  destroy  the  day 
of  rest  for  the  laboring  man  and  the  day  of  worship  for  the  religious  man  ? 
Nay,  is  there  not  a  stronger  claim  for  these  branches  of  business,  inas- 
much as  they  supply  an  occasional  and  irregular  want,  while  the  news- 
papers, if  needed  at  all,  may  be  served  noiselessly  at  the  door,  as  on  other 
daj's. 

4.  The  crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday  is  an  invasion  of  the  claims  of 
courtesy  and  good  neighborhood.  Even  if  it  interfered  with  no  rights  and 
involved  no  peril  to  public  and  private  morals,  it  were  a  breach  of  good 
manners  to  obtrude  wares  upon  a  whole  community  at  an  untimely  period, 
knowing  that  but  here  and  there  an  individual  is  to  be  provided  with 
them.  What  would  be  thought  of  an  over-zealous  Christian  who  should 
thrust  himself  into  a  theatre  or  a  ball-room  to  cry  and  sell  Bibles  and 
tracts  ?  What  of  a  missionary  who  should  traverse  the  streets  fifty  times 
of  a  morning,  and  cry  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Remember  the  Sabbath 
day  to  keep  it  holy:"  "Repent,  for  the  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand?"  It 
would  be  justly  considered  as  ill-mannered  and  offensive,  even  though 
seven-tenths  of  the  population  were  in  sympathy  with  his  object. 

5.  This  system  is  a  flagrant  violation  of  the  rights  of  our  citizens.  Every 
man  has  an  inalienable  right  to  a  weekly  day  of  rest,  and  he  robs  himself 
who  gives  it  up.  The  Sabbath  is  the  poor  man's  friend — the  bulwark  of 
labor  against  the  encroachments  of  capital.  And  every  man  has  a  right 
to  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  his  day  of  rest.  Government  fails  of  its  duty 
if  it  do  not  secure  this,  leaving  to  the  individual  conscience  the  mode  of 
observing  the  day  and  profiting  by  its  privileges.  But  these  rights  are 
invaded  when  from  early  dawn  till  mid-day,  and,  not  unfrequently,  at  all 
hours  of  the  day,  stentorian  lungs  break  the  repose  or  disturb  the  worship 
of  families,  by  vociferating  the  titles  and  contents  of  newspapers,  and 
compelling  worldly  associations  like  those  which  have  wearied  the  brain 
and  engrossed  tke  energies  during  the  week. 

We  deem  it  unnecessary  to  extend  this  discussion.  The  remedy  for  the 
evil  we  expose  rests  primarily  with  the  publishers  of  the  Sunday  papers, 
and  we  trust  they  will  promptly  apply  it.  The  newsboys  themselves  may 
sometimes  be  unconscious  of  the  wrong  they  are  doing.  Many  of  thera 
probably  know  little  of  the  laws  of  God  or  man,  and  are  perhaps  the  un- 
witting agents  of  more  intelligent  parties.  We  seek  no  harsh  measures 
for  the  poor  lads  :  but  we  would  respectfully  urge  the  abatement  of  this 
evil,  for  the  sake  of  the  newsboys  themselves,  for  the  sake  of  our  juvenile 


population,  for  the  sake  of  order  and  good  morals,  for  the  sake  of  our 
families,  Sabbath-scliools,  and  Christian  assemblies,  for  the  good  name  of 
our  city,  and  for  the  sake  of  restoring  and  perpetuating  a  quiet,  refresh- 
ing, sacred  Sabbath  to  the  business-driven  and  wearied  citizens  of  the 
metropolis  you  so  worthily  govern  and  protect. 

With  the  highest  respect 

Yoiir  obedient  fellow-citizens, 


NORMAN   WHITE, 
HORACE  HOLDEN, 
JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN, 
J.  M.  MORRISON, 
E.  L.  BEADLE, 
WILLIAM   A.  BOOTH, 
ROBERT   CARTER, 
WARREN   CARTER, 
THOMAS   C.  DOREMÜS, 
E.  L.  FANCHER, 
FRED.  G.  FOSTER, 
DAVID   HOADLEY, 
GEORGE   W.  LANE, 
GEORGE   N.  TITÜS, 
WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 

E.  C.  WILCOX, 

F.  S.  WINSTON, 
O.  E.  WOOD, 
PELATIAH   PERIT, 
WILSON   G.  HUNT, 
WM.  V.  BRADY, 
JOHN  C.  GREEN, 
JAMES   BROWN, 
JAMES  HARPER, 
DANIEL  LORD, 
CALEB  O.  HALSTED, 
S.  R.  BETTS, 
JAMES  W.  GERARD, 
JOSIAH   LANE, 
ABNER  L.  ELY, 

W.  C.  WETMORE, 
JNO.  SLOSSON, 
GEO.  DOUGLAS, 
MARSH.  S.  BIDWELL, 
JASPER  CORNING, 
HIRAM  KETCHUM, 


GREENE  C.  BRONSON, 
TILLY  ALLEN, 
WM.  CURTIS  NOYES, 
WILLIAM  TRACY, 
DAVID  PARISH, 
F.  E.  CHURCH, 
JOHN   LUQUEER, 
J.  G.  ALLEN, 
S.  T.  SKIDMORE, 
BENJAMIN   L.  SWAN, 
S.  B.  SCHEIFFELIN, 
PHILETUS  H.  HOLT, 
THOMAS  DENNY, 
WH.  H.  SMITH, 
A.  R,  WETMORE, 
T.  KETCHUM, 
R.  L.  STUART, 
JAS.  M.  TAYLOR, 
H.  M.  SCHEIFFELIN, 
GEO.  D.  PHELPS, 
JAMES  DONALDSON, 
JAS.  D.  OLIVER, 
ALEXANDER  STUART, 
JAMES   C.  HOLDEN, 
GEO.  MATHER, 
S.  B.  WOODRUFF, 

C.  W.  MOORE, 
J.  T.  MOORE, 
RICHARD   BELL, 
JOSEPH  STUART, 

D.  H.  ARNOLD, 
CHARLES   J.  MARTIN, 
ALFRED  EDWARDS, 
WM.  ALLEN   BUTLER, 
JAMES   L.  GRAHAM, 
DAVID   CODWISE, 
SHEPHARD   KNAPP, 
WILLIAM  FORREST, 


PETER  COOPER, 
JNO.  P.  CROSBY, 
C.  A.  DAVISON, 
WM.  E.  DODGE, 
W.  R.  VERMILYE, 
JOHN   SLADE, 

E.  D.    MORGAN, 
J.  N.  PHELPS, 
JOHN  J,   PHELPS, 

B.  W.    BONNEY, 
RICHARD   M.  HOE, 
CHAS.  P.  KIRKLAND, 
W.  C.   GILMAN, 

L.  ATTERBURY,   JR., 

C.  CROLIUS, 

N.  L.  M'CREADY, 
ISAAC  T.  SMITH, 
CHAS.  M.  LEUPP, 
WM.  C.  MARTIN, 
LORING  ANDREWS, 
T.  C.  CHARDAVOYNE, 
CHAS.    MILES, 

D.  FANSHAW, 
JAMES  STOKES, 
ANSON   G.  PHELPS, 
JOS.  KERNOCHAN, 

F.  F.  MARBURY, 
GRIFFITH   THOMAS, 
THOMAS   EGLESTON, 
JOSEPH   BATTELL, 

A.  B.  NEILSON, 
PETER   V.  KING, 
THOMAS   TILESTON, 
THOMAS   H,  FAILE, 
STEWART   BROWN, 

B.  F.  BUTLER, 
JNO.  L.  MASON. 


NOTE  OF  THE  SABBATH  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  SUNDAY  PRESS. 

[The  followiug  note,  alluded  to  in  the  above  memorial,  was  addressed  to  the  Proprietors 
of  the  Sunday  newspapers  :] 

To  THE  Proprietors  op  Sunday  Newspapers  : 

New  York,  April  30th,  1858. 

Gentlemen, — On  our  own  behalf,  and  in  the  name  of  our  fellow-citizens,  we  would 
respectfully  remonstrate  against  the  Crying  of  Newspapers  on  Sunday. 

This  systematic  nuisance  is  believed  to  be  peculiar  to  this  city.  We  can  find  no  sanc- 
tion for  it  in  the  principles  of  comity  or  morality.  It  is  an  invasion  of  the  rights  of  the 
people,  who  have  a  claim  to  one  day  in  seven  for  uninterrupted  rest  and  worship,  by  the 
laws  of  being,  and  by  the  statutes  of  God  and  man.  It  is  a  violation  of  courtesy  and 
good  neighborhood, — a  selfish  subjection  of  the  community,  in  their  homes  and  sanctuaries, 
to  a  disturbance  of  their  quiet,  for  the  convenience  or  profit  of  a  few.  It  demoralizes  the 
newsboys,  who  need  the  influence  of  the  family  and  the  school  instead  of  the  apprenticeship 
in  vice  and  crime  to  which  they  are  tempted  and  frequently  drawn  by  their  immoral  gains. 
It  corrupts  the  children  and  youth  of  our  city  by  universal  evil  example  ;  tends  to  coun- 
teract the  efforts  of  parents,  teachers,  and  of  institutions  ot  an  educational  and  reformatory 
character,  for  the  instruction  and  reformation  of  the  young  ;  encourages  the  spirit  of  law- 
lessness, and  engenders  irreverence  for  all  authority,  human  and  divine.  It  furnishes  a 
dangerous  precedent :  for  if  the  least  necessary  and  most  offensive  business  may  be  done  on 
the  day  of  rest,  it  will  not  long  enjoy  a  monopoly  of  evil :  the  general  desecration  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath  may  follow,  bringing  with  it  the  undermining  of  the  foundations  of 
morality  and  religion,  the  opening  of  the  floodgates  of  dissipation  and  crime,  and  the  ulti- 
mate inauguration  of  a  week  without  a  Sabbath,  and  "  without  God." 

The  people  of  this  city  and  the  strangers  visiting  the  metropolis  have  long  endured, 
without  approving,  the  evil  of  which  we  complain — its  very  magnitude  and  universality 
furnishing  hitherto  a  security  for  the  authors  of  it.  Should  it  not  be  abated  ?  May  we 
not,  without  argument,  appeal  to  you,  as  gentlemen  and  good  citizens,  to  discourage  and 

suppress  it  i  [Autograpli  signatures  of  the  members  of  the  Committee.'] 

ACTION  OF  THE  MUNICIPAL  AUTHORITIES. 

The  preceding  memorial  was  presented  May  20  ;  and,  after  discussion,  its  prayer  was 
granted.  Pursuant  to  the  action  of  the  Police  Commissionei's,  the  following  order  to 
the  Captains  of  Police  was  promptly  issued  by  the  General  Superintendent,  May  22. 

Office  of  Superintendent  of  Police, 
New  York,  May  22. 

Sir  : — The  Commissioners  of  Police  have  directed  the  General  Superintendent  to  enforce 
the  law  prohibiting  the  sale  of  wares  and  merchandize  on  the  Sabbath,  and  also  to  prevent 
the  crying  of  newspapers  on  that  day.  The  21st  section  of  a  law  establishing  a  Metro- 
politan Police  District  forbids  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  on  that  day,  under  a  pen- 
alty ;  and  other  statutes  of  the  State  prohibit  the  sale  of  other  articles  of  merchandize  on 
the  Sabbath. 

The  crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday  disturbs  the  quiet  of  the  day,  and  is  a  violation  of 
law,  and  is  a  subject  of  earnest  complaint  by  a  large  body  of  our  most  respectable  citizens. 
You  will  instruct  the  men  under  your  command  not  only  to  report  all  violations  of  the 
Sabbath,  but  to  suppress  the  crying  of  newspapers  on  that  day.  The  law  authorizes  the 
forfeiture  of  all  property  exposed  for  sale  on  that  day,  except  milk  and  fish  in  the  morning. 

Before  enforcing  the  rigid  provisions  of  the  law,  you  will  caution  the  persons  crying  the 
papers,  of  the  consequences  of  such  violations  of  the  law,  and  only  upon  its  repetition  will 
you  enforce  its  provisions.  F.  A.  Tallmadge,  Superintendent  of  Police. 


THE  DAILY  PRESS  ON  THE  MEMORIAL  AND  ITS  RESULTS. 

From  the  Courier  and  Enquirer,  May  22. 

Sunday  Disturbance. — We  publish  in  another  cohimn  an  ably-drawn  memorial,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners  in  favor  of  the  suppression  of  crying 
newspapers  in  the  streets  on  Sunday.  It  is  signed  by  a  large  number  of  our  most  respected 
citizens,  and  we  are  pleased  to  know  that  it  has  met  with  a  most  favorable  reception. 
This  practice  is  a  nuisance  which  ought  to  have  been  abated  long  since,  and  would  have 
been  had  we  had  a  respectable  municipal  government.  But  the  time  has  gone  by  when 
the  better  part  of  our  community  must  needs  patiently  submit  to  these  abuses.  We  have 
a  chief  magistrate  who  will  not  for  an  instant  pander,  for  his  own  self-interests,  to  our 
viler  elements — one  who  has  both  the  honesty  and  the  courage  to  maintain  the  laws,  and 
devote  himself  to  the  public  welfare.  This  njemorial  will  repay  perusal,  and  we  have  no 
doubt  that  the  action  it  invokes  will  be  faithfully  carried  out. 

From  the  Courier  and  Enquirer,  June  5. 

An  End  to  Sunday  News  Ceying. — The  sole  request  of  as  respectable  a  body  of 
memorialists  as  ever  invoked  the  intervention  of  our  Magistrates,  was,  that  they  would 
deliver  our  over-worked  citizens  from  the  disturbance  of  their  only  day  of  rest  by  the  loud 
crying  and  illegal  sale  of  Sunday  papers.  This  petition  was  urged  on  grounds  Avhich 
united  citizens  of  all  classes  and  creeds, — the  well-being  of  the  newsboys,  the  injury  to 
our  children  of  their  lawless  example,  the  unwarrantable  monopoly  of  street  traiEc,  the 
invasion  of  courtesy  and  good  neighborhood,  and  the  violation  of  the  rights  of  our  citizens. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  there  was  never  greater  unanimity  on  any  question  of 
the  sort  than  exists  in  our  community  as  to  the  reasonableness  of  their  request.  The  par- 
tial relief  for  a  Sabbath  or  two  from  street  noises  has  been  felt  to  be  a  great  boon  ;  and 
the  agency  of  the  Police  authorities  has  been  recognized  as  beneficent  and  wise.  Now 
that  the  newsboys  have  had  ample  warning — so  that  even  the  pretext  of  harshness  towards 
them  can  hardly  be  set  up  in  any  quarter — the  coup  de  grace  should  be  given  to  this  un- 
pardonable nuisance.  It  will  not  do  to  permit  the  magistracy  of  the  city  to  be  openly 
flouted  by  a  few  urchins,  even  though  they  may  be  backed  by  a  portion  of  the  Sunday 
press.  If  any  head  is  to  be  made  against  juvenile  crime,  if  the  city  is  ever  to  be  restored 
to  order  and  quiet,  the  issue  joined  on  the  single  question  of  Sunday  ncM'scrying  must  be 
promptly  and  efficiently  met,  and  the  young  apprentices  of  crime  must  be  taught  that 
officers  of  the  law  are  not  to  be  trifled  with.  A  single  day  of  vigorous  action  might 
settle  the  question. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  21. 
Crying  Sunday  Newspapers. — We  publish  with  pleasure  a  memorial  signed  by  near 
100  influential  citizens,  praying  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners  to  put  a  stop  to  the 
crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday.  The  request  is  reasonable,  and  we  trust  it  will  be  com- 
plied with.  It  is  decidedly  too  bad  that  the  whole  city  should  be  kept  in  an  uproar  every 
Sunday,  because  a  few  ragged  boys  choose  to  have  it  so.  There  is  no  need  of  crying  their 
papers,  even  if  they  sell  them  ;  they  can  serve  them  to  subscribers,  or  sell  them,  about  as 
well  without  crying  them  as  with.  We  hope  that  the  city  authorities  and  Police  Com- 
missioners will  follow  the  matter  up  until  the  evil  is  effectually  cured.  The  crying  of 
newspapers  on  Sunday  is  clearly  contrary  to  law. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  24. 
An  Unmitigated  Nuisance  Suppressed. — The  public  were  hardly  prepared  for  so 
sudden,  eSectual  and  immediate  action  as  has  resulted  in  relieving  the  city  from  the  Sun- 
day newspaper  nuisance.  Hitherto  the  sacred  light  hardly  dawned  before  it  was  ruthlessly 
profaned  by  troops  of  urchin  peddlers,  screeching  through  every  thoroughfare.  The 
custom  had  been  confirmed  by  long  indulgence,  till  most  people  despaired  of  its  being  ever 
abated  ;  but  we  awoke  one  fine  Sunday  morning  (only  yesterday),  and  the  thing  had 
utterly  disappeared,  as  by  the  stroke  of  a  magician's  wand.  To  the  Mayor  and  Police 
Commissioners,  by  whom  this  measure  was  more  immediately  effected,  and  to  the  Judges 
whose  learned  opinions  have  contributed  so  largely  to  the  same  desirable  end,  the  public 
will  be  supremely  grateful.    Let  private  individuals  co-operate  with  the  authorities  till 


the  barbarous  practice  now  so  happily  suppressed  be  placed  beyond  the  power  of  resuscita- 
tion. Yesterday  was  a  Sabbath  sucli  as  New  Yorkers  had  not  been  previously  privileged 
to  eujoy  for  a  long  period  of  years — silent,  tranquil,  solemn — an  eloquent  tribute  to  an 
enlightened  Christian  civilization.    May  we  have  many  more  such. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  June  5. 

Sunday  News  Cries. — The  partial  relief  from  this  nuisance  has  given  our  people  a 
taste  of  unwonted  Sabbath  quiet.  In  many  portions  of  the  city  there  has  been  almost  the 
stillness  of  the  country  on  the  last  two  or  three  Sabbaths.  If  Sunday  papers  have  been 
sold,  it  has  been  done  without  disturbing  the  peace  of  a  whole  square  to  wake  up  or  call 
forth  one  or  two  patrons  of  the  Sunday  press.  There  seems  to  be  universal  satisfaction  with 
the  reform — some,  even  of  the  Sunday  papers,  conceding  the  right  to  demand  it,  and  one 
of  them  having  changed  its  day  of  publication  to  Saturday,  in  "  obedience  to  law."  Others 
of  them  threaten  tvdd  bluster,  but  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  Police  Commissioners  and 
the  General  Superintendent  will  carry  out  their  avowed  purpose  to  suppress  this  needless 
and  offensive  outrage  on  the  rights  and  feelings  of  the  Christian  community — indeed  the 
whole  community — and  they  will  be  sustained  by  the  general  voice  of  our  citizens. 

From  the  Express,  May  21. 

The  Nuisance  of  Sunday  Newspaper  Crying  is  to  be  put  down,  if  the  very  respect- 
able body  of  gentlemen  who  compose  the  Sabbath  Committee  can  put  it  down  ;  and, 
judging  from  their  well-known  energy  and  perseverance,  and  the  justness  of  their  cause, 
they  will  not  rest  until  the  quiet  of  the  Lord's  Day  is  no  longer  broken  by  the  shrill  cries 
of"  Atlas,"  "  Mercury,"  "  Dispatch,"  "  'P>ald,"  "  Times,"  and  "  Sunday  Courier." 

Some  weeks  since,  the  gentlemen  of  this  committee  addressed  a  respectfully-worded 
circular  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Sunday  newspapers,  urging  them  to  voluntarily  put  a 
stop  to  the  nuisance  complained  of,  and  set  an  example  of  respect  for  the  Sabbath,  and 
for  the  feelings  of  the  great  majority  of  the  residents  of  New  York,  by  having  their 
papers  served  quietly,  if  they  nuist  be  printed  on  Sunday.  This  circular  was  received 
with  a  universal  shout  of  derision  by  the  Sunday  editors.  They  reviled  the  gentlemen  of 
the  committee  as  "  bigoted  Sabbatarians,"  expatiated  on  the  tyranny  of  "  puritanical  par- 
sons," who  wanted  to  rule  all  the  world  and  make  everybody  as  long-faced  and  hypocritical 
as  themselves,  and  dared  the  committee  to  proceed  with  their  efforts  to  deprive  the  poor 
man  of  his  Sunday  amusement,  declaring  themselves  ready  to  sustain  the  fight  to  the  end. 

The  spirit  displayed  by  the  Sunday  editors  was  not  a  judicious  one,  and  cannot  be 
sympathized  with  by  the  great  body  of  thinking  people  in  New  York,  who  want  one  day's 
rest  from  such  every-day  ideas  as  the  crying  of  Sunday  papers  must  bring  up.  The  com- 
mittee are  more  determined  than  ever  to  sustain  their  position — not  because  of  their 
enmity  to  the  Sunday  newspaper  traffic,  any  moi'e  than  to  any  other  species  of  Sunday 
trade,  but  because  in  prosecuting  the  great  reform  which  they  contemplate — teaching  our 
people  to  "  remember  the  Sabbath  Day  to  keep  it  holy" — they  must  make  a  beginning 
somewhere,  and  they  wisely  judge  that  the  most  conspicuous  and  formidable  antagonist 
should  first  be  encountered.  If  they  should  retreat  before  the  opposition  of  the  Sunday 
press,  all  the  Sabbath-breaking  community  would  take  courage,  and  the  violation  of  the 
Lord's  day  would  become  more  intolerable  than  ever  ;  therefore,  there  is  no  retreat  for  the 
committee,  if  they  are  in  earnest  in  their  work,  as  we  believe  they  are. 

Seeing  that  their  appeal  to  the  Sunday  editors  was  of  no  avail,  the  committee  have 
memorialized  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners,  respectfully  inviting  "  the  intervention 
of  the  constituted  guardians  of  the  public  peace  and  morals  to  deliver  our  over-worked 
citizens  from  the  disturbance  of  their  repose,  and  the  interruption  of  their  public  and 
private  devotions  on  their  only  day  of  rest,  by  the  loud  crying  and  illegal  sale  of  Sunday 
papers." 

The  memorial  of  the  committee  protests  against  the  evil — 1st,  because  it  is  a  school  of 
vice  to  the  boys  engaged  in  it ;  2d,  because  the  evil  example  of  those  boys  is  disastrous  to 
the  juvenile  population  of  the  city  ;  3d,  because  the  system  implies  a  monopoly,  and  if  it 
is  continued  will  encourage  all  other  trades  to  prosecute  their  every  day  callings  on  Sun- 
day ;  4th,  because  the  crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday  is  an  invasion  of  the  claims  of 
courtesy  and  good  neighborhood  ;  5th,  because  the  system  is  a  flagrant  violation  of  the 
rights  of  our  citizens — depriving  them  of  their  weekly  day  of  rest.  In  a  word  the  com- 
mittee urge  the  "  abatement  of  this  evil  for  the  sake  of  the  newsboys  themselves,  for  the 


8 

sake  of  our  juvenile  population,  for  the  sake  of  order  and  good  morals,  for  the  peace  of  our 
families,  Sabbath  schools  and  Christian  assemblies — for  the  good  name  of  our  city,  and  for 
the  sake  of  restoring  and  perpetuating  a  quiet,  refreshing,  sacred  Sabbath  to  the  business- 
driven  and  wearied  citizens  of  the  metropolis." 

The  authorities,  we  understand,  are  inclined  to  coincide  with  the  committee.  The  Police 
Commissioners,  at  their  meeting  on  Thursday,  adopted  a  resolution  directing  the  General 
Superintendent  to  enforce  the  Sunday  laws  and  ordinances  ;  and  as  these  laws  positively 
forbid  the  selling  of  OH  (/;/img  on  Sunday  but  meat  and  milk — which  must  be  sold  before 
nine  o'clock  A.M. — we  may  expect  a  decisive  issue  to  the  controversy  ere  long. 

It  seems  to  us  that  the  wisest  way  to  settle  the  question  would  be  for  the  Sunday  press 
to  change  their  day  of  publication.  The  weekly  papers  of  the  largest  circulation  and 
most  popular  character  are  neither  published  on  Sunday  nor  cried  through  the  streets. 
The  opportunity  now  offers  for  the  establishment  of  a  weekly  literary  press,  which  will  far 
exceed  in  excellence  the  present  Sunday  press.  The  editors  of  the  Leader  have  lost  nothing 
by  publishing  it  on  Saturday,  and  if  the  other  Sunday  papers  would  follow  the  example 
of  Aid.  Clancy,  our  word  for  it,  they  would  find  their  profit  in  the  change. 

From  the  Commercial  Advert-ser,  May  24. 

Due  Observance  of  the  Sabbath  Day. — The  recent  earnest  movement  for  a  better 
observance  of  the  Sabbath-day  has  been  effectively  seconded  by  the  Metropolitan  Police 
Commissioners.  Under  their  direction,  the  General  Superintendent  issued  an  order  on 
Saturday,  requiring  the  Inspectors  in  the  various  precincts  to  instruct  the  men  under  their 
command  "  not  only  to  report  all  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  but  to  suppress  the  crying  of 
newspapers  on  that  day  ;"  and  this  they  are  enabled  to  do,  as  the  law  authorizes  the  for- 
feiture of  all  property  exposed  for  sale  on  Sunday,  except  milk  and  fish  in  the  morning. 
The  effect  of  this  order  was,  that  yesterday,  in  some  parts  of  the  city,  was  the  most  quiet, 
peaceful,  and  orderly  Sabbath  known  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  many  years.  In  some 
of  the  precincts,  however,  the  order  did  not  appear  to  be  enforced. 

From  Vie  Evening  Post,  May  20. 

The  Sunday  Newspaper-Crying  Nuisance. — There  is  no  doubt  that  the  noise  with 
which  the  newspaper  boys  make  Sunday  morning  hideous  in  the  city,  is  a  nuisance.  As 
such  it  is  the  proper  duty  of  the  police  to  abate  it.  They  hitherto  forbore  from  a  variety 
of  reasons,  no  one  of  which  was  worth  a  great  deal,  but  all  together  sufficed  to  prevent 
action  being  taken  in  the  premises.  A  number  of  our  prominent  citizens  bave  determined 
to  encourage  the  Municipal  Police  Commissioners  in  the  effort  they  were  disposed  to 
make  to  restore  at  least  as  much  quiet  to  our  streets  on  Sunday  morning  as  is  enjoyed  on 
the  other  mornings  of  the  week. 

From  the  New  York  Times,  May  31. 

Sunday  News  Cries. — Yesterday  the  city  enjoyed  another  quiet  Sunday,  so  far  as  the 
cries  of  news-boys  were  concerned.  Every  person  approves  the  change,  and  we  are  glad 
to  see  that  even  the  Sunday  newspapers,  which  were  at  first  most  violent  against  the  order 
to  discontinue  the  street-cries  of  news-venders'  on  Sunday,  are  beginning  to  concede  its 
propriety.  The  Dispatch,  as  we  have  already  stated,  has  decided  to  issue  its  paper  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  and  the  Jtla^s  now  expresses  the  opinion  that  the  cessation  of  these 
cries,  while  it  greatly  promotes  the  public  quiet,  will  not  in  the  least  interfere  with  the 
proper  and  legitimate  sale  of  Sunday  papers.  If  the  policy  now  entered  on  is  pursued, 
we  presume  the  whole  community  will  soon  approve  the  change. 

Same  Journal,  Correspondence,  May  31. 

Abatement  of  a  Chronic  Nuisance. — The  prompt  action  of  the  Police  Commission- 
ers on  the  memorial  against  Sunday  news-crying,  and  the  consequent  order  of  the  Super- 
intendent, deserve  unusual  commendation.  Twenty-one  years'  continuance  of  such  an 
unpardonable  nuisance  ought  to  sufiQce.  Every  body  wonders  now  that  it  should  have 
been  endured  so  long.    And  when  the  reform  is  completed,  the  relief  to  families,  Sabbath- 


9 

schools,  and  churches,  will  be  great  enough  to  call  for  general  thanksgiving.  I  am  sure 
I  utter  the  sentiment  of  tens  of  thousands  when  I  tender  the  most  cordial  thanks  to  our 
excellent  Mayor,  and  to  the  Commissioners  and  Superintendent  of  Police,  for  their  inter- 
vention to  put  an  end  to  policy-gambling,  Sunday  news-crying,  and  kindred  evils. 

From  the  New  York  Times,  June  12. 

Sabbath  Bells. — Our  neighbors  of  the  Sunday  press  have  suddenly  discovered  that 
the  ringing  of  church  bells  on  Sunday  is  an  intolerable  nuisance.  The  Herald  rings  as 
many  chimes  on  this  subject  as  come  pealing  from  an  Old  World  cathedral,  albeit  they  are 
a  little  cracked  and  time-worn.  And  even  some  of  our  nervous  Aldermen  seem  disposed 
to  put  their  hands  on  "  +he  tongue  of  time,"  lest  it  should  tell  some  unpleasant  stories  in 
its  Sunday  morning  utterances.  Well,  "  One  man's  meat  is  another  man's  poison."  Per- 
haps the  very  reason  that  made  Douglas  Jerrold  love  the  music  of  Sabbath  bells  may  be 
the  one  that  fills  the  souls — for  all  men  are  supposed  to  have  souls,  though  they  may  not 
always  think  of  it — of  editors  and  Aldermen  with  disgust  at  their  sound.  In  St.  lames' 
and  St.  ones'  the  great  humorist  says,  with  equal  pathos  and  beauty  : 

"  *  There's  something  beautiful  in  the  church  bells,  don't  you  think  so,  Jem  ? '  asked 
Capstick  in  a  sudden  tone.  '  Beautiful  and  hopeful,  they  talk  to  high  and  low,  rich  and 
poor,  in  the  same  voice ;  there's  a  sound  in  'em  that  should  scare  pride,  and  envy  and 
meanness  of  all  sorts  from  the  heart  of  man  ;  that  should  make  him  look  upon  the  world 
with  kind,  forgiving  eyes  ;  that  should  make  the  earth  seem  to  him,  at  least  for  a  time,  a 
holy  place.  Yes,  Jem,  there's  a  whole  sermon  in  every  sound  of  the  church  bells,'  (here's  the 
rub  !)  '  if  we  only  have  the  ears  to  rightly  understand  it.  There's  a  preacher  in  every  bel- 
fry, Jem,  that  cries,  '  Poor,  weary,  struggling,  fighting  creatures — poor  human  things ! 
take  rest,  be  quiet.  Forget  your  vanities,  your  week-day  craft,  your  heart-burnings ! 
And  you,  ye  humble  vessels,  gilt  and  painted,  believe  the  iron  tongue  that  tells  ye,  that  for 
all  your  gilding,  all  your  colors,  ye  are  the  same  Adam's  earth  with  the  beggars  at  your 
gates.'  Come  away,  come,  cries  the  church-bell,  and  learn  to  be  humble  ;  learning  that, 
however  daubed,  and  stained,  and  stuck  about  with  jewels,  you  are  but  grave  clay.  Come, 
Dives,  come,  and  be  taught  all  your  glory,  as  you  wear  it,  is  not  half  so  beautiful,  in  the 
eyes  of  Heaven,  as  the  sores  of  uncomplaining  Lazarus  !  And  ye  poor  creatures,  livid 
and  faint,  stinted  and  crushed  with  the  pride  and  hardness  of  the  world,  come,  come,  cry 
the  bells,  with  the  voice  of  an  angel  ;  come  and  learn  what  is  laid  up  for  ye,  and  learning, 
take  heart,  and  walk  among  the  wickedness  and  cruelties  of  the  world  calmly,  as  Daniel 
walked  among  lions.' 

"  Here  Capstick,  flushed  and  excited,  wrought  beyond  himself,  suddenly  paused.  Jem 
started,  astonished,  but  said  no  word.  And  then  Capstick,  with  firmer  manner,  said  : 
'  Jem,  is  there  a  finer  sight  than  a  stream  of  human  creatures  passing  from  a  Christian 
church  ?' " 

A  New  York  Alderman  thinks  there  is.  In  his  view, "  nine-tenths  of  church-goers  are 
hypocrites,  and  he  seldom  went  there  (to  church)  himself,  because  he  deemed  himself  in 
far  better  company  among  the  people  of  the  world  " — where  there  is  "  drinking  and  racing 
on  the  avenue  '  on  Sunday — "  than  he  could  find  in  the  church."  And  this  for  popidarity 
in  the  metropolis  of  a  Christian  laud !  Seven  Aldermen  vote  the  "  ringing  of  church 
bells  a  nuisance  !"  A  witty  and  a  chivalric  way  of  meeting  the  universal  demand  of  the 
public  and  the  press  to  stop  the  crying  of  newspapers  on  Sunday. 

From  the  New  Yo7-k  Times,  June  14. 

THR0Wi>fG  Away  the  Mask. — The  attempt  to  stop  the  news-boys  from  shouting  on 
Sunday  has  had  one  effect,  which  might  perhaps  have  been  anticipated.  It  has  converted 
the  whole  tribe  of  Sunday  newspapers  into  open,  rancorous  assailants  of  religion  and  the 
church.  They  all  teem  now  every  week  with  the  most  vehement  abuse  of  everything  con- 
nected with  Christianity,  and  are  rapidly  becoming  the  open  advocates  of  infidelity.  We 
can  hardly  believe  their  sales  are  as  much  injured  by  stopping  the  news-boys'  cries  as  their 
character  will  be  by  this  movement. 


10 

The  news-boys  who,  left  to  themselves,  have  observed  the  Sabbath  laws  very  respect- 
fully for  two  weeks  past,  were  heard  yesterday  morning  crying  out  quite  lustily  the  names 
of  the  Sunday  papers.  The  exertions  of  certain  Aldermen — no  better  than  they  should 
be,  and  journals  no  better  than  the  Aldermen — to  throw  discredit  upon  the  movement  for 
the  enforcement  of  the  Sunday  laws,  are  probably  at  the  bottom  of  the  news-boys'  re- 
bellion. Perhaps  the  boys  trust  a  little  too  to  the  hope  that  the  policemen,  true  to 
their  antecedents,  will  relax  their  efforts  to  suppress  such  a  crying  evil,  after  such  an 
extended  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Police  Commissioners. 

From  the  Tribune. 

The  Crying  of  Newspapers  through  our  streets  on  Sunday  morning  is  a  public 
nuisance,  which  we  would  gladly  see  abated.  *  *  *  The  instructions  issued  to  the 
police  to  prohibit  boys  from  crying  Sunday  papers  through  the  streets  has  had  a  marked 
effect  in  abating  the  nuisance.  The  boys  keep  a  close  mouth  when  they  see  a  policeman 
about.  As  a  policeman  is  stationed  in  front  of  every  church,  the  annoyance  to  which 
church-going  people  was  subjected  by  the  news-boys  is  almost  entirely  abated. 

From  the  Sun,  May  21. 

The  Sunday  Movement. — A  strong  effort  is  being  made  to  put  a  stop  to  crying  news- 
papers on  Sunday — first  by  application  to  the  Sunday  newspaper  publishers  themselves, 
and  next  to  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  memorial  that 
this  is  no  fanatical,  religious  crusade,  in  any  sense  of  the  term  ;  no  effort  to  force  a  con- 
formity to  any  special  creed  ;  but  simply  an  attempt  to  protect  the  rights  of  every  one  to 
quiet  and  rest  one  day  in  seven,  free  from  annoyance  and  disturbance  by  others.  Whatr 
ever  may  be  the  opinions  of  anti-Sabbatarians  on  the  manner  of  observing  the  Sabbath, 
they  will  not,  we  think,  question  the  propriety  of  preserving  to  every  man  one  day  of  rest 
out  of  every  seven,  if  he  desires  to  take  it. 

In  this  case,  the  memorialists  ask  less  than  the  spirit  of  existing  laws  already  grants, 
and  we  cannot  doubt  that  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  will  promptly  meet  their 
wishes  to  the  extent  of  their  lawful  powers.  Except  by  a  total  suspension  of  their 
business,  the  newspaper  publishers  have  less  control  over  the  manner  of  disposing  of  their 
respective  sheets  than  is  generally  supposed.  They  do  not  employ  the  newsboys,  but  sell 
their  papers  in  large  quantities  to  carriers,  agents,  and  boys,  knowing  no  difiercuce  between 
those  which  are  to  be  quietly  left  at  the  houses  of  subscribers,  and  those  which  are  to  be 
cried  aloud  in  the  streets.  The  reform  sought  must,  therefore,  be  eflected  through  the 
enforcement  of  the  present  laws. 

From  the  Daily  News,  3Iay  22. 

Sunday  Cries. — A  movement  will  be  commenced  to-morrow  (Simday)  to  put  an  end 
to  the  crying  and  bawling  of  newspapers  and  other  articles  through  the  streets  on  that  day. 
This  is  a  reform  much  needed.  There  is  no  necessity  for  yelling  and  screaming  all  day 
through  the  streets,  Here's  the  Herald,  Atlas,  and  Times,  or  milk,  fish,  and  clams,  to  the 
disturbance  of  everybody  but  the  venders.  Ixit  these  articles  be  served  to  those  who  wish 
them  in  a  proper  and  decent  way,  on  Sunday  at  least ;  or  if  papers  must  be  hawked  about, 
let  them  be  carried  in  silence,  as  an  Italian  carries  his  images  on  his  head,  depending  on 
the  eye  for  a  customer,  instead  of  his  throat. 


SUNDAY  NEWS-CRYING  ILLEGAL. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  20. 

Two  decisions  within  the  past  year  have  a  direct  bearing  on  a  nuisance  of  long  standing 
in  this  city.  We  cite  them  for  the  information  of  our  readers,  and  with  the  hope  that  our 
magistrates  will  bear  them  in  mind  when  seeking  to  promote  the  quiet  and  morals  of  the 
metropolis. 


11 

Judge  Thompson,  of  Philadelphia,  decided  as  follows : 

"  Tlic  crying  of  newspapers  in  the  public  streets  on  Sunday  is  a  breach  of  the  peace.  As 
well  might  the  oysterman  cry  his  oysters,  or  the  charcoal  man  ring  his  bell.  The  peace 
of  Sunday  may  be  disturbed  by  acts,  which  on  other  days  cannot  be  complained  of— such 
acts  as  interfere  with  the  rights  which  the  law  vouchsafes  to  the  people  who  desire  to 
observe  that  day  as  a  period  of  religious  observance,  and  of  rest  from  worldly  business. 
It  is  the  duty  of  Courts  to  uphold  the  institutions  and  laws  under  which  our  liberties  have 
grown  and  prospered." 

Judge  Roosevelt,  of  this  city,  in  the  case  of  Smith  vs.  Wilcox,  involving  the  question 
"  whether  a  contract,  however  clearly  proved,  and  however  obligatory  in  honor,  to  adver- 
tise in  a  Sunday  paper,  can  be  the  subject  of  a  legal  action,"  decided  that  such  a  claim 
"  cannot  be  recovered  in  any  Court  of  this  State."  His  ruling  was,  that  although  a 
paper  be  printed  on  Saturday  night,  "  the  paper  was  to  be  issued  on  Sunday,  to  be  dis- 
tributed on  Sunday,  to  be  sold  on  Sunday,  and  to  be  read  on  Sunday,"  and  was  thus  a 
violation  of  the  statute  prohibiting  "servile  labor  or  working  on  that  day,  excepting 
works  of  necessity  and  mercy,"  and  the  exposing  "  to  sale  of  any  wares  or  merchandise." 

"  A  newspaper  is  clearly  an  article  of  merchandise.  Admitting,  then,  that  the  crying 
and  carrying  of  a  newspaper  about  the  streets  was  a  mere  pastime,  and  not  a  work  of 
labor,  its  sale,  notwithstanding,  in  that  manner,  would  be  an  unlawful  violation  of  the 
prohibition  which  declares  that  no  person  shall  expose  to  sale  any  merchandise,  wares,  &c., 
on  Sunday. 

"  It  is  this  exposure  to  sale,  and  the  consequent  disturbance  of  the  quiet  of  the  day,  and 
not  the  sale  itself,  which  in  this  State  constitutes  the  illegality  of  the  transaction.  *  *  * 
The  prohibition  of  merchandising,  as  it  was  called,  on  Sunday,  is  as  old  in  our  law  as  the 
statutes  of  King  Athelstan.  *  *  *  Iq  any  view  of  religious  obligation,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  contend  that  the  reading  of  advertisements  in  a  Sunday  newspaper,  or  aiding  a 
person  to  do  so,  is  a  work  either  of  necessity  or  charity.  The  mind  certainly  in  that  day 
requires  no  such  sustenance.  And  even  as  a  matter  of  taste,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
common  business  advertisements  of  buying  and  selling  are  a  very  unsuitable  outfit  for  a 
feast  of  reason.  Six  days,  at  all  events,  of  such  diet  are  enough.  Thought  perpetually 
running  in  one  channel,  like  matrimony  in  one  family,  dwarfs  the  intellect.  It  is  rather, 
therefore,  a  work  of  charity  in  such  cases  to  withhold  than  to  give.  Abstinence,  not 
sustenance  is  what  is  needed." 

The  honorable  Judge  has  embodied  in  a  single  sentence  one  of  the  most  weighty 
arguments  against  secular  occupations  on  the  Sabbath  ever  penned  :  "  Thought  perpetually 
running  in  one  channel,  hhe  matrimony  in  one  family,  dwarfs  the  intellect."  It  is  an 
unanswerable  objection  to  the  publishing,  vending,  crying,  or  reading  of  Sunday  news- 
papers. "  Six  days  of  such  diet  are  enough  ;  "  the  intellect  and  the  heart  need  something 
else  than  business  and  amusement,  or  they  become  dwarfed  and  debased. 

THE  RELIGIOUS  PRESS  ON  THE  MEMORIAL. 

From  the  Observer,  May  27. 

One  Sunday  Nuisance  Abated. — The  citizens  of  New  York  have  been  blessed  with 
one  quiet  Sabbath.  On  waking  last  Sunday  morning  their  ears  were  not  saluted  with  the 
intolerable  cry  of  the  newsboys,  which  has  for  years  been  the  chief  public  grievance  of  that 
day.  Not  a  sound  of  this  nature  was  heard.  We  are  indebted  for  this  deliverance,  in 
the  first  place,  to  the  earnest  remonstrance  of  our  most  influential  citizens,  and,  in  the 
next  place,  to  the  police  authorities  for  their  energetic  enforcement  of  the  law.  We  trust 
that  this  nuisance  is  effectually  abated. 

From  the  Observer,  June  3. 

Honor  to  whom  Honor. — Public  officers  are  public  targets.  Every  peniiy-a-liner  may 
give  them  a  shot  for  some  real  or  fancied  delinquency.  It  must  be  confessed  that  for 
many  years  there  have  been  repeated  occasions  for  censure  in  our  ill-governed  city.  But 
the  habit  of  fault-finding  ought  not  to  be  carried  to  the  extent  of  overlooking  or  under- 
valuing the  efforts  of  our  magistracy  to  restore  the  reign  of  law  and  order.  And  now  that 
we  have  an  honest  Mayor  and  an  efficient  Police  Board,  they  should  be  made  to  feel  that 
their  attempts  to  suppress  vice^ud  crime  are  appreciated,  and  will  command  the  univer- 


12 

sal  support  of  good  citizens.  They  are  grappling  manfully  with  chronic  evils,  entrenched 
in  the  sclfislinoss  and  baser  passions  of  considerable  numbers.  Gamblers  and  policy- 
dealers  and  Sabbath-breakers  are  a  power  in  tjie  metropolis.  It  M'ill  require  no  little 
courage  and  firnmess  of  purpose,  backed  by  the  intelligent  and  orderly  classes  of  society, 
to  route  the  hordes  who  have  so  long  defied  the  officers  of  law,  and  prostituted  the  rights 
of  citizenship. 

In  the  matter  of  abating  Sunday  nuisances,  the  action  of  the  Police  Commissioners 
will  commend  itself  to  all  but  interested  parties.  Religious  considerations  aside,  and 
taking  the  lowest  view  of  the  question,  an  overworked  city  needs  rest  and  quiet  one  day  in 
seven.  Our  laws  provide  for  this ;  but  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  these  laws  have  been 
null  and  void.  Our  streets  have  been  given  up  to  newsboys,  and  our  Sabbath  mornings 
have  been  made  hideous  by  their  yells.  Quiet  was  impossible.  A  few  hundred  urchins 
were  suffered,  without  molestation,  to  annoy  half  a  million  of  people.  At  last  the  police 
authorities,  at  the  instance  of  a  immerous  body  of  memorialists,  and  in  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  ahnost  our  entire  population,  have  laid  their  hands  on  the  nuisance,  and  it 
has  disappeared,  we  hope  for  ever.  Some  of  the  Sunday  papers,  notwithstanding  their 
disclaimer  of  all  responsibility  for  the  manner  of  selling  their  sheets,  bluster  and  tlircaten 
vengeance.  But  they  mistake  the  stuff"  our  magistrates  are  made  of,  and  they  know  little 
of  public  sentiment,  if  they  suppose  the  reign  of  lawlessness  is  to  be  perpetuated,  even 
though  an  illegal  and  immoral  press  shall  strive  to  sustain  it.  We  can  assure  those  in 
authority  that  a  calm,  faithful  carrying  out  of  our  statutes  which  contemplate  the  adequate 
protection  of  the  rights  of  person,  property,  and  worship  against  all  trespassers  will  com- 
mand the  respect,  gratitude,  and  support  of  the  citizens  of  New  York. 

From  the  Evangelist,  June  3. 

Sunday  News  Crying. — The  effort  commenced  by  some  of  our  oldest  and  best  citizens 
for  the  promotion  of  the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  finds  its  first  success  in  abating 
the  nuisance  of  crying  newspapers  on  Sunday  morning.  It  is  now  two  weeks  since  the 
General  Superintendent  of  Police  issued  his  instructions,  first  to  warn  every  offender,  and 
next  to  arrest  every  one  disregarding  the  warning.  Beyond  some  ill  feeling  on  the  part 
of  a  portion  of  the  Sunday  press,  no  opposition  to  the  measure  has  been  manilested,  and 
we  chronicled  last  week  an  almost  entire  cessation  of  the  annoyance  that  church-goers 
and  quiet  people  have  endured  (not  without  complaint,  but  without  action  for  relief )  for 
upwards  of  twenty  years.  Quite  to  the  surprise  of  all,  one  of  the  Sunday  papers  has  pub- 
lished a  card,  signifying  its  readiness  to  "  obey  the  law,"  and  last  Sabbath  was  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  preceding.  It  ought  to  be  understood  that  the  movement  is  solely  against  the 
public  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  and  as  such  is  directed  only  against  the  crying  of  the 
papers — not  against  the  business  of  publishing  papers  bearing  the  date  of  Sunday.  *  * 
The  press  generally  expresses  approbation  of  the  change,  and  the  obligations  of  the  com- 
munity to  the  Superintendent  of  Police  and  his  staff  for  their  discreet  and  efficient  ser- 
vices in  the  matter. 

From  the  Christian  Intelligencer,  May  26. 

One  Nuisance  Less. — The  Commissioners  of  Police  deserve  universal  commendation  for 
the  promptness  with  which  they  have  acted  on  the  memorial  of  fcitizens  against  the  crying 
of  newspapers  on  the  Sabbath.  'J'he  manly  order  of  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police 
followed  their  action  immediately  ;  and  the  effect  was  obvious  in  the  diminished  noise  of 
the  newsboys,  and  in  an  apjn-oximation  to  a  quiet  day.  Next  Sabbath  we  may  hope  for 
full  relief  from  one  of  the  most  atmoying  forms  of  Sabbath  desecration  of  twenty  years' 
standing.  'Wliy  would  it  not  be  appropriate  to  give  thanks  to  God  for  a  restored  bless- 
ing, and  to  pray  for  wisdom  and  firmness  to  be  given  to  the  worthy  magistrates  ^vho  have 
attempted  this  reform  ? 

From  the  htlellige/icer,  June  3. 

The  New  Sabbath  in  New  Yoek. — We  observe  a  general  congratulation  of  each 
other,  among  all  good  people,  at  the  recent  change  in  the  character  of  our  day  of  rest. 
The  nuisance  of  the  newsboys'  cries  has  entirely  ceased.  Formerly  Cln-istians  in  their 
private  devotions,  their  household  worship,  and  even  in  the  sanctuary  of  God,  were  fre- 
quently and  painfully  disturbed  by  these  noisy  outcries.  Very  many  respectable  people 
who  did  not  profess  godliness,  yet  agreed  with  those  who  did,  in  denouncing  this  gross, 


13 

offensive,  and  needless  violation  of  the  Lord's  day.  Yet  these  denunciations,  the  remon- 
strances of  clergymen,  and  the  diatribes  of  the  religious  press,  were  for  many  years  of  no 
avail.  Now,  however,  by  the  regular,  deliberate,  determined  action  of  the  police,  the 
nuisance  has  for  two  weeks  been  effectually  abated,  leaving  no  room  for  doubt,  that  the 
good  work  can  and  will  be  indefinitely  prolonged  in  the  future. 

Great  honor  is  due  for  this  result  to  the  Sabbath  Committee  for  their  judicious  action 
in  the  matter,  and  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  for  the  decided  stand 
they  have  taken,  and  the  quiet  but  effective  measures  they  have  initiated.  Both  these 
bodies  have  earned  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  all  who  desire  to  "  remember  the  Sab- 
bath day  to  keep  it  holy." 

From  the  Examiner,  May  25. 
The'  result  of  the  above  order  was  an  almost  complete  suspension  of  the  yelling  which 
has  heretofore  assailed  the  ears  of  our  citizens  on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath.  People 
had  so  thoroughly  disciplined  themselves  to  a  patient  endurance  of  this  abomination,  that 
they  were  unprepared  for  the  sudden  transition.  It  was  a  Sabbath  such  as  New  Yorkers 
had  not  been  privileged  to  enjoy  for  a  long  period  of  years — silent,  tranquil  and  solemn — 
an  eloquent  tribute  to  aa  enlightened  Christian  civilization.    May  we  have  many  such. 

From  the  Chronicle,  May  23. 
It  is  sufficiently  abhorrent  to  the  moral  sense  for  a  man  to  prosecute,  even  in  a  quiet 
manner  on  the  Sabbath,  his  secular  calling  ;  but  when  he  does  it  openly  in  the  streets, 
and  employs  neglected  and  wayward  boys  to  cry  his  news  through  the  city  from  one  end 
to  the  other,  it  becomes  a  grievous  nuisance  which  our  authorities  are  imperiously  called 
on  to  abate.  In  no  other  city  in  which  we  ever  spent  a  Sabbath,  in  this  country  or  abroad, 
have  we  ever  met  with  anything  of  the  kind.  In  Paris  and  other  Catholic  cities,  the 
Sabbath  is  indeed  disregarded  ;  but  we  have  no  recollection  of  hearing  the  vociferous  cry- 
ing of  newspapers  which  disturbs  the  quiet  of  our  Sundays  here  in  New  York.  Why, 
therefore,  should  it  be  tolerated  ?  We  are  glad  to  give  place  to  a  memorial  on  this  sub- 
ject, signed  by  a  large  number  of  our  principal  citizens.  And  we  are  still  more  pleased 
to  find  that  this  and  similar  movements  are  producing  their  effect.  Last  Sabbath,  for  the 
first  time  in  years,  our  streets  were  undisturbed  by  the  shouts  of  newsboys. 

From  the  Christian  Advocate,  June  1. 
Observance  of  the  Sunday  Laws. — Sunday,  the  23d  ultimo,  was  an  important  era 
in  the  history  of  modern  New  York.  It  was  the  day  when  an  effort  was  made  by  the 
police  to  obtain  an  outward  show  of  respect  for  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  In  the 
15th  and  17th  Wards  the  shops  were  generally  closed.  In  the  14th,  8th,  5th,  and  other 
down-town  Wards,  the  shops  were  partially  closed.  In  the  6th  Ward  some  of  the  most 
obstinate  liquor  dealers  gave  in,  but  most  of  the  shop-keepers,  Jews,  and  others  in  Chat- 
ham-street, were  iu  full  blast.    The  newsboy  cries  were  stopped,  as  a  general  thing. 

From  the  Way  of  Life,  May  20. 
It  is  exceedingly  gratifying  to  learn  that  our  city  authorities  have  pledged  themselves 
to  abate  the  nuisance  caused  by  the  crying  of  Suuday  newspapers  in  front  of  our  churches, 
and  near  our  homes.     We  trust  that  our  readers  will  use  their  influence  every  where 
against  the  sale  of  newspapers  of  every  description  on  the  Lord's  day. 

THE  SUNDAY  PRESS  ON  THE  MEMORIAL. 

We  present  a  few  extracts  from  the  teeming  columns  of  the  Sunday  newspapers,  showing 
their  tone  and  character  : 

From  the  Sunday  Dispatch,  May  9. 
*  *  The  newsboys  must  organize  in  self-defence  ;  they,  too,  can  call  public  meetings  and 
appoint  committees,  and,  if  we  are  not  greatly  mistaken,  they  will  prove  quite  a  match 
for  this  Sabbath  Committee  and  the  clerical  instigators  who  have  prompted  the  subdolous 
meanness  that  has  marked  the  recent  attempts  to  revive  Puritanical  coercive  Sunday 
observance.  It  is  not  many  years  ago  since  the  newsboys  had  to  appeal  to  the  public 
against  a  similar  persecution.    The  public  supported  them  then,  and  will  do  so  again. 


14 

Let  them  once  more  call  a  public  meeting  in  the  Park,  and  they  will  find  that  any  attempt 
at  picayune  dictation  on  the  part  of  trumpery  bigots  and  hypocritical  dullards  is  not  at 
all  to  the  taste  of  this  community. 

Same  journal,  May  23. 

We  suggest  to  the  Sabbath  Committee  to  offiir  premiums  to  the  policemen  who  shall 
show  most  activity  in  capturing  newsboys.  Let  them  say — a  free  "  conversion  "  to  every 
man  who  takes  a  dozen  prisoners  ;  to  him  who  captures  two  dozen  of  the  wretches  a  "  free 
admission  "  to  a  Fifth  Avenue  church,  and  to  him  who  seizes  the  greatest  number,  a  copy 
of  the  "  respectable  sixpenny"  that  was  "  down  on  "  Commissioner . 

Same  journal,  May  29. 

The  whole  movement  is  an  outrage  against  civic  rights,  based  on  tbe  most  shallow  pre- 
texts. Its  instigators  are  designing  hypocrites.  We  propose,  by  temporarily  changing 
our  day  of  publication  (to  Saturday),  to  show  these  sleek  and  "  most  influential  "  parsons 
and  pettifoggers  in  aristocratic  piety  in  tlieir  true  light.  We  are  fully  aware  of  the 
encroaching  spirit  that  animates  our  picayune  "  aristocracy,"  that  causes  them  to  chafe 
and  fret  at  the  idea  of  the  poor  and  vulgar  herd  enjoying  one  day  out  of  the  seven,  free 
from  their  upstart  dictation.  These  petty  tyrants,  with  the  souls  of  promoted  flunkeys, 
are  not  satisfied  with  growing  rich  from  the  blood  and  toil  of  men,  who  for  a  wretched 
pittance  serve  them  six  days  in  the  week  ;  they  are  not  content  with  reducing  the  people 
almost  to  a  condition  of  slavery  in  their  workshops,  but  would  put  the  badge  of  servitude 
upon  them  at  their  own  firesides.  In  their  pitiful  arrogance  they  affect  to  look  upon  the 
principle  of  equal  freedom  as  a  dangerous  heresy,  that  must  be  suppressed.  *  * 

We  warn  these  hypocrites  and  clerical  sycophants  to  be  cautious  how  they  tamper  with 
the  forbearance  of  the  public,  and  arouse  that  public  indignation  which,  once  excited, 
will  hurl  them  from  the  precipice  to  which  their  unrebuked  pride  has  urged  them  to  climb, 
or  rather  crawl  1    And  these  be  your  gods,  Oh,  ye  sapient  and  supple  Metropolitans ! 

New  York  Dispatch,  June  5. 

Where  is  the  evidence  that  the  Sunday,  which  these  besotted  pretenders  to  optimism 
in  morals  and  religion  seek  to  control  for  their  own  purposes,  was  even  the  day  designated 
on  Mount  Sinai  in  which  man  should  do  no  work  ?  These  questions  should  have  presented 
themselves  to  the  Police  Commissioners  before  they  submitted  to  the  degrading  task  of 
subserving  the  views  of  an  insolent  and  supercilious  set  of  pharisaical  vagabonds,  whose 
real  motives  for  urging  the  war  against  the  Sunday  press  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that 
the  chronic  iniquities  of  the  class  to  which  they  belong,  and  which  they  would  fain  screen 
from  public  scorn  and  execration,  find  no  mercy  at  the  hands  of  that  institution.     The 

forgers, ,  and ,  and  the  delinquents, ,  and ,  are  all  members  of  the  same 

fraternity  of  pious  and  aristocratic  plunderers,  who  have  so  long  preyed  upon  the  vitals 
of  this  abused  community,  and  whose  conspiracy  against  the  liberty  of  the  press  is  only  a 
desperate  attempt  to  securce  immunity  from  their  crimes. 

*  *  Our  own  observations  on  Sunday  last  convince  us  that  the  Police  Commissioners 
have  no  idea  of  attempting  the  enforcement  of  the  absolete  Sunday  laws — their  resolution 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  The  only  thing  attempted  was  the  suppression  of  the 
Sunday  cries  of  the  newsboys.  Even  this  part  of  the  programme  was  but  imperfectly 
enforced,  as  the  police  found  themselves  rather  puzzled  to  know  what  to  do  with  the 
refractory  boys.    In  a  few  weeks  this  whole  crusade  will  be  forgotten. 

From  the  Sunday  Mercury,  June  6. 

Religious  Peter  Funkism. — The  "  unco-righteous,"  as  Burns  characteristically  calls 
them,  are  delighted  at  their  "  penny-dip"  victory  over  the  tongues  of  the  newsboys.  The 
gentlemen  of  the  Fifth  Avenue,  who  toil  so  energetically  through  the  week  that  they  must, 
they  really  must,  lie  late  abed  on  Sabbath  morning,  are  overjoyed  that  the  voice  of  the 
little  newspaper  dealers  no  longer  disturbs  their  luxurious  repose.  *  *  Nothing  could 
more  effectually  demonstrate  the  hypocrisy  of  these  Sabbatarians,  who  work  their  own 
servants  to  death  on  the  Sabbath,  while  they  piteously  implore  the  law  to  prevent  other 
people  from  laboring  on  that  day,  than  the  petition  they  sent  in  to  the  Police  Commission- 


15 

ers.  The  church  bells,  forsooth,  do  not  disturb  their  cosy  sS umbers,  but  the  cry  of  "  'Ere's 
the  Sunday  Mercury,  on'y  four  cents,"  throws  them  into  a  paroxysm  of  wakefuhiess.  The 
church  organ  and  the  opera  singers  in  the  church  choir  do  not  affect  their  devotional 
nervous  system,  but  the  sale  of  a  newspaper  that  has  the  independence  to  laugh  at  their 
affectation  and  expose  their  duplicity,  afflicts  them  lilie  an  attack  of  neuralgia  in  the  ears. 
*  *  The  distant  music  of  the  newsboy's  vocation  fills  them  with  all  the  gall  and  bitterness 
of  humbug  Chi'istianity.  The  petition  says  it  even  mars  their  "  domestic  conversation," 
and  surely  the  conversation  of  the  broken-down  bankers,  commission  merchants,  parvenu 
soap-fat  dealers,  and  financial  chevaliers  d'industrie  who  constitute  the  religious  Peter 
Funks  engaged  in  this  movement,  is  too  precious  to  be  sacrificed  because  only  two  hundred 
thousand  better  citizens  than  they  desire  to  I'ead  the  news !  What  is  the  convenience  of 
a  quarter  of  a  million  of  sensible  people,  when  placed  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  of  the  elite,  the  very  "  fancy"  of  Fifth  avenue  Christianity  ? 

From  the  Sunday  Mercury,  June  6. 

The  war  that  has  been,  and  still  is,  waged  over  the  shoulders  of  the  poor  newsboys  against 
that  press  which  dares  to  exercise  its  legitimate  rights  on  every  day  of  the  week,  will  be 
as  impotent  as  it  is  absurd  and  fanatical.  For  a  time  the  Salibatariaus  may  be  able  to 
frighten  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners  into  lending  their  countenance  and  support 
to  their  crusade  against  us  ;  but  we  think  we  shall  soon  be  able  to  teach  those  officials 
that  there  is  a  power  greater  than  a  miserable  clique  of  fanatics  and  hypocrites,  which 
should  command  their  respect.  The  people,  who  elevated  them  to  office,  will  mark  the 
men  who  lend  themselves  to  the  furtherance  of  the  selfish  ends  of  the  Sabbatarian  clique, 
and  we  promise  them  that  they  will  not  be  overlooked  by  us  at  the  proper  time. 

The  right  of  the  newsboy  to  sell  and  cry  his  wares  in  the  streets  of  New  York  is  co- 
incident with  the  liberty  of  the  press,  and  that  liberty  shall  ever  find  in  us  an  uncompro- 
mising and  determined  defender. 

From  the  N.  Y.  Herald. 

One  of  the  greatest  reforms  has  been  introduced  that  has  been  effected  in  any  city  or 
country  since  the  expulsion  of  the  Jews  from  Egypt — nothing  more  nor  less  than  the 
gagging  of  two  or  three  dozen  ragged  newsboys,  who  have  been  in  the  ha1)it  of  profaning 
the  blessed  Sabbath  by  crying  aloud  for  their  bread  in  the  public  streets  on  that  holy  day 
while  blundering  office-holders,  swindling  hypocrites  and  common  thieves  were  on  their  way 
like  honest  people,  to  church. 

From  the  Sunday  Courier,  May  30. 

"  An  Unmitigated  Nuisance  Suppressed." — Under  this  head,  the  "  Journal  of  Com- 
merce," on  Monday  morning,  said :  "  Yesterday  was  a  Sabbath  such  as  New  Yorkers  had  not 
previously  been  privileged  to  enjoy  for  a  long  period  of  years — silent,  tranquil,  and  solenm  ; 
an  eloquent  tribute  to  an  enlightened  Christian  civilization.  May  we  have  many  more 
such."  On  Sunday  last,  about  two,  p.m.,  we  happened  to  be  walking  down  Full  on  street, 
when  we  met  a  military  funeral,  with  a  band  of  music,  making  more  noise  than  all  the  news- 
boys in  creation  could  possibly  do,  if  they  were  all  to  unite  their  voices  in  screaming.  At 
the  same  time  there  were  church  bells  clanging  and  banging  in  every  direction,  filling  the  air 
with  loud  brassy  sounds,  that  smote  most  harshly  upon  the  ear  ;  all  the  railroad  cars  were 
running,  making  a  most  thundering  noise ;  and  there  were  hundreds  of  private  cai-riages 
rattling  down  Broadway  and  through  the  cross  streets.  Steamboat  bells  were  dinging  at 
the  wharves,  and  steam  pipes  were  hissing  and  screaming  ;  the  wind  was  blowing  just  as 
hard  as  on  any  other  day,  dogs  were  barking,  the  waves  were  dashing  against  docks  without 
the  regard  to  the  day,  and  the  bustle  about  all  the  ferries  were  no  dififerout  from  what  they 
are  on  other  days.  And  yet  because  a  dozen  or  so  of  small  urchins  had  been  deprived  by 
the  valiant  police  of  the  privilege  of  selling  papers  to  furnish  themselves  the  means  to  pay  for 
their  cakes  and  coffee,  the  hypocritical "  Journal  of  Commerce  '"  could  have  the  lying  mean- 
ness to  say  "  that  the  day  was  silent,  tranquil,  and  solemn ;  an  eloquent  tribute  to  an  en- 
lightened Christian  civilization."  The  poor  sneak  who  wrote  that  sentence  must  have  tried 
very  hard  if  he  did  not  exhibit  the  conscious  look  of  a  knave  when  he  penned  it. 


16 

From  the  Sunday  Courier,  May  30. 

The  Sunday  Dispatch  Defunct. — We  are  very  sorry  to  annonncc,  that  the  "  Sunday 
Dispatch,"  which  has  so  long  occupied  a  prominent  position  among  the  Journals  of  this 
city,  has  ceased  to  exist.  The  "  Dispatch  "  has  now  become  a  Saturday  paper,  and  will 
doubtless  be  just  as  Dispatchy  as  ever,  though  its  characteristics  as  a  Sunday  paper 
will  be  no  longer  maintained.  The  proprietor  has  been  induced  to  change  the  day  of  its 
publicafion^as  he  states,  out  of  deference  to  the  expressed  wishes  of  about  a  hundred  cit- 
izens, who  had  made  a  protest  against  Sunday  papers.  We  think,  for  our  own  part,  that 
the  wishes  of  the  270,000  people  who  read  the  Sunday  papers  are  entitled  to  as  much 
respect  as  those  of  a  hundred  men  who  do  not  read  them,  and  as  long  as  a  large  and  intel- 
ligent public  demands  a  Sunday  morning  paper,  we  shall  continue  to  publish  one  for  their 
benefit.  But  the  "  Dispatch"  gives  a  much  better  reason  than  this  for  changing  their  day 
of  publication.  They  are  going  to  boldly  and  persistently  contest  the  question  of  the  con- 
stitutionality of  our  Sunday  laws,  and  in  order  to  do  this  effectively  they  think  it  necessary 
to  put  themselves  on  the  right  side  so  far  as  the  technicalities  of  the  law  go.  In  this  view 
of  the  case  the  change  is  one  to  be  commended,  and  the  "  Dispatch"  will  have  the  good 
wishes  of  every  opponent  of  narrow-minded  bigotry  and  fanaticism. 

From  the  Sunday  Atlas,  May  30. 

The  "  Dispatch  "  is  no  longer  to  be  published  on  Sunday.  It  is  now  the  "  New  York 
Dispatch,"  and  is  issued  on  Saturday  afternoon.  We  do  not  exactly  comprehend  Alder- 
man Williamson's  idea  of  changing  his  publication  day  ;  but  we  are  positive  he  has  not 
joined  the  church.  Yesterday's  "  Dispatch"  opens  a  heavy  battery  upon  the  sanctimonious 
Sabbath  Committee,  and  discusses  the  whole  Sunday  question  with  masterly  ability.  We 
have  an  idea  that  the  Alderman  prints  his  paper  on  Saturday,  so  as  to  afford  the  narrow- 
minded  hypocrites  he  pounces  upon,  an  opportunity  to  see  themselves  in  his  mirror,  with- 
out being  subject  to  the  necessity  of  reading  a  "  wicked  Sunday  journal." 

From  the  New  York  Leader,  May  29. 

The  Saturday  Press. — It  is  more  than  one  year  since  the  "  Leader,"  as  a  concession 
to  public  sentiment,  altered  its  day  of  publication  to  Saturday.  The  change  was  a  haz- 
ardous one,  and  against  the  advice  of  friends  we  tried  the  experiment,  trusting  to  the  mer- 
its of  the  paper  to  maintain  its  position.  For  some  time  we  suffered  by  the  change,  but 
an  unflinching  perseverance  carried  us  through  every  difiBculty,  and  we  may  truthfully  say 
that  the  "  Leader"  has  established  the  fact  that  a  weekly  Saturday  paper  can  be  supported 
in  this  city.  We  have  found  that  our  experiment  has  resulted  profitably,  and  though  a 
combination  of  interests  attempted  to  cry  down  our  enterprise,  we  have  triumphed  over 
all  opposition,  solely  upon  the  superior  merit  of  our  columns. 

We  have  prospered,  and  the  public,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  our  success,  has 
rewarded  our  exertions  generously  as  the  pioneer  of  the  Saturday  press.  The  "  Dispatch," 
following  our  example,  has  altered  its  day  of  publication,  and  to-day  is  issued  as  the 
second  Saturday  paper.  We  greet  our  neighbor  cordially,  and  know  that  its  enterprising 
publisher  will  be  successful,  as  we  have  been. 

From  the  Sunday  Atlas,  June  13. 

It  is  but  few  privileges  the  poorer  classes  enjoy  in  this  city,  and  one  of  them  is  the  right 
to  employ  Sunday  in  their  own  way.  To  do  a  petty  trade  in  candy  and  fruits,  or  to  sell 
newspapers,  or  any  other  trifles  on  Sunday,  by  which  a  few  pennies  can  be  realized,  has 
always  been  the  privilege  of  the  poor.  Deny  them  that,  and  the  rich  may  reasonably  ex- 
pect an  onslaught  upon  all  the  immunities  they  now  enjoy,  from  a  strict  enforcement  of 
the  laws.  Norman  White,  Horace  Plolden,  Peter  Cooper,  H.  M.  Schieffelin,  and  their  as- 
sociate signers  of  the  memorial  for  the  abrogation  of  the  Sunday  newspaper  traffic,  don't 
comprehend,  as  yet,  what  an  enormous  devil  they  are  going  to  raise,  if  their  ideas  are  to  be  car- 
ried out. 

Office  of  Sabbath  Committee,  No.  21  Bible  House,  New  York. 


THE  SABBATH  IN  EUROPE: 

THE  HOLY  DAY  OF  FREEDOM-THE  HOLIDAY  OF  DESPOTISM. 

SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  BOG.  NO.  IV. 
(fourth  edition.) 


[The  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  New  York  Sabbath  Com- 
mittee, on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  Europe  for  domestic  reasons, 
was  requested  by  the  Committee  to  confer  with  the  friends  of  the. 
Sabbath  in  Great  Britain  and  on  tlie  Continent,  and  to  investigate 
the  influence  of  a  hohday  Sunday  on  the  social,  moral,  and  religious 
condition  of  the  people.  The  results  of  these  inquiries,  and  of 
somewhat  extended  observation  during  two  yeai's  of  European 
travel,  in  1853,  '56,  '57,  are  herewith  submitted.  They  may  have 
value  as  affecting  the  important  question  of  the  comparative  safety 
of  observing  the  Lord's  Day  as  a  holiday  or  a  holy  day.'] 

THE    SABBATH    IN    SCOTLAND. 

Leaving  New  York  in  the  Persia,  July  7,  my  first  Sabbath  on 
shore  was  spent  at  Glasgow.  There,  in  the  largest  commercial  city 
of  Scotland,  the  external  observance  of  the  Lord's  day  was  almost 
as  complete  as  in  a  New  England  village  of  olden  time.  Business 
of  every  kind  was  suspended.  Every  dram-shop  was  shut.  The 
commerce  of  the  Clyde  stood  still.  Excepting  at  the  hours  of 
worship  the  streets  were  mostly  deserted.  The  principal  line  of 
railway — from  Glasgow  to  Edinburgh — was  entirely  closed  ;  but 
lines  connecting  with  the  English  railway  system  continue  their 
traffic.  As  a  whole,  tnis  Sabbath  in  Glasgow  approximated  one's 
ide:\l  of  a  Christian  Sabbath  for  a  great  city — a  day  of  general  rest 
ana  worshii) ;  a  home,  apparently,  for  everybody,  and  everybody  at 

1 


2  THE   SABBATH   IN   SCOTLAND. 

home  ;  churches  for  the  people,  and  the  people  at  church.  Of 
course  there  must  be  darker  shades  to  the  picture  ;  probably  there 
are  thousands  of"  Sabbath-breaking,  unevangelized  souls  in  such  a 
city.  I  speak  only  of  the  external  aspects  :  and  they  certainly  do 
great  honor  to  the  Christian  sentiment  and  the  municipal  govern- 
ment of  Glasgow. 

The  improvement  within  the  past  five  years  has  been  very  great, 
owing  chiefly  to  the  operation  of  the  "  Forbes  McKenzie  Act," 
which  effectually  closes  all  dram-shops  from  11  o'clock  p.m.  on 
Saturday  until  8  o'clock  a.m.  on  Monday;  and  to  the  zeal  and 
benevolence  of  John  Henderson,  Esq.,  an  eminent  merchant,  and 
others,  in  diffusing  light  as  to  the  claims  and  blessings  of  the  Sab- 
bath, and  in  providing  spiritual  instruction  for  the  poor.  "The 
McKenzie  Act "  deserves  careful  attention.  It  is  ofhcially  stated 
that  it  has  diminished  fully  one  third  the  arrests  for  crime,  drunk- 
enness, and  disorderly  conduct;  while  its  influence  on  Sabbath  quiet 
kas  been  very  marked.  The  Superintendant  of  the  Glasgow  Police 
reports  a  continued  "  improvement  in  respect  to  order  and  decorvmi 
in  the  streets  on  the  Sabbath-day;  and  on  Saturday  nights,  by  12 
o'clock,  peace  and  good  order  are  obtained,  instead  of  as  formei'ly, 
a  state  of  turmoil  and  disorder  the  whole  of  Sabbath  morning.  In 
no  place,"  he  says,  "  is  the  difference  more  observable  than  in  the 
police  offices,  where  Sunday  used  to  be  a  busy  day,  but  it  is  now 
perfectly  quiet ;  and  it  is  not  unusual  for  a  whole  Sabbath  to  pass 
without  a  single  case  of  any  kind  brought  in.  The  lieutenants  are 
now  at  liberty  to  go  to  church,  and  the  turnkeys  have  now  little  else 
to  do  on  Sunday  than  to  read  their  Bibles.  *  *  *  I  have  no  doubt 
that  to  the  new  Public  House  Act  we  are  wholly  indebted  for  our 
comparatively  quiet  and  orderly  Sabbaths." 

Ninety-five  of  the  ministers  of  Glasgow  unite  in  making  a  similar 
statement ;  and  like  testimony  is  borne  by  the  magistrates  and 
others  of  Edinburgh,  and  nearly  all  the  large  to^\ns  of  Scotland. 

An  important  object  in  visiting  Glasgow  was  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Henderson,  to  whose  wise  beneficence  Great  Britain  and  the  world 
owe  so  much  in  many  relations,  but  especially  in  connexion  with 
Sabbath  observance.  His  liberality  prompted  the  premiums  lor 
essays  by  working  men,  which  elicited  "  Heaven's  Antidote  for  the 
Curse  of  Labor,"  "  The  Pearl  of  Days,"  etc.,  and  gave  them  a  cir- 
culation of  tens  of  thousands  among  the  laboring  classes.  His  phi- 
lanthropy prompted  measures  for  rescuing  cabmen  and  kindi'cd 
classes  from  the  thraldom  of  seven  days'  toil.  His  agency  may  >*«• 
traced  on  the  Continent  in  many  a  scheme  for  restoring  a  lost  ba^ 
\a.ih  and  a  lost  faith.     On  his  return  from  Edinburgh  on  busine.««» 


THE   SABBATH   IN  SCOTLAND.  3 

connected  with  the  Bible  Society,  I  drove  with  him  to  his  beautiful 
seat  overlooking  the  Clyde;  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  subse- 
quent interview  in  London,  as  he  was  passing  to  Holland  on  an 
errand  of  benevolence.  The  views  and  plans  of  your  Committee 
accord  entirely  with  Mr.  Henderson's,  and  we  may  rely  on  his  coun- 
sel and  aid,  at  all  times.  His  publisher,  in  London,  supplied  me  with 
copies  of  all  the  work^  issued  by  his  agency — some  of  which  may 
well  be  republished  in  the  United  States — and  he  will  use  to  advan- 
tage a  large  number  of  some  of  the  documents  of  this  Committee, 

I  employed  the  "  machine  "  of  an  old  blacksmith  when  returning 
from  Park  to  Glasgow  (10  miles)  at  night,  the  railway  train  having 
failed  me.  The  old  man  was  a  noble  specimen  of  the  Scottish 
laborer,  trained  under  the  Sabbath  and  the  Gospel.  As  a  friend  of 
Mr.  Henderson's,  his  heart  was  opened  to  me ;  and  he  poured  forth 
rich  stores  of  Christian  A\nsdom  and  experience  as  we  trundled  along 
a  dark  road.  The  facts  of  the  American  revival  had  refreshed  his 
spirit,  and  formed  the  subject  of  protracted  inquiry  and  remark. 
The  bearings  of  Sabbath  sanctification  on  the  family  and  the  indi- 
vidual had  been  matters  of  jjrofound  thought  and  blessed  experi- 
ence. His  conversation  was  so  imbued  with  Scriptural  language 
and  imagery  as  to  make  some  of  his  utterances  truly  eloquent. 
Humble  as  is  his  station  in  life,  one  could  not  but  feel  a  reverence 
and  respect  for  that  old  Christian  which  learning,  and  rank,  and 
wealth  alone  could  never  inspire.  But  the  reflection  is  inevitable 
that  such  characters  are  only  formed  under  the  influence  of  the 
Sabbath  and  the  Bible.  When  we  parted  at  the  door  of  my  hotel, 
he  refused  the  piece  of  gold  tendered  in  reward  for  his  kind  ser- 
vice :  "  Na,  na,"  said  he,  "  I'll  na  take  the  like  o'  that,  nor  the  hauf 
^o'  it.  'Tis  a  gude  talk  we've  had  anent  the  kingdom  of  God.  Ye're 
a  friend  of  Mr.  Henderson's,  and  he's  doing  mair  for  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  Britain  than  any  man  in  it.  Good-bye,  and  may  God  bless 
you," 

At  Stirling  I  spent  a  day  with  my  valued  friend  Drummond, 
another  active  friend  of  the  Sabbath,  and  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising Christians  in  Europe.  Just  ten  years  ago,  "  Peter  Drum- 
mond, seedsman,"  then  at  the  head  of  a  very  large  agricultural 
warehouse,  grieved  at  the  increasing  desecration  of  the  Lord's 
Day  around  him,  caused  some  tracts  to  be  written,  published,  and 
circulated  at  his  o^vn  expense.  The  success  of  his  efforts  for  the 
Sabbath  led  to  the  "  Stirling  Tract  Enterprise,"  which  has  come  to 
be  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  far-reaching  of  the  schemes  for 
popular  evangelization  in  the  Old  World.  Though  still  solely  an 
individual  effort,  Mr.  Drummond  is  now  issuing  his  twenty-second 


4  THE   SABBATH   IN   SCOTLAND. 

miUio)i  of  tracts,  and  has  expended  some  110,000  beyond  his  rccei2>t3 
in  diffusing  them  among  the  destitute.  Five  years  since  he  began 
the  "British  Messenger"  (prompted  by  the  iisefuhiess  of  the 
"American  Messenger"),  which  has  now  a  circuhition  of  110,000 
copies,  and  which  seems  Ukely  to  introduce  a  new  era  in  the  popuhir 
religious  literature  of  Great  Britain.  Besides  a  large  and  useful 
series  of  Sabbath  Tracts,  the  "  Messenger"  employs  its  colunms  in 
defence  and  commendation  of  the  day  of  rest.  The  individual 
enei'gies  of  Mr.  Drummond,  and  of  the  excellent  Editor  of  his  pub- 
lications, the  Rev.  Wm.  Reid,  are  now  devoted  to  the  revival 
of  spiritual  religion  ;  and  he  is  the  mainspring  of  a  system  of  agen- 
cies which  the  Holy  Spirit  is  blessing  in  the  salvation  of  multitudes. 

A  work  of  much  research  on  the  Sabbath  is  in  press,  by  the 
Rev,  Mr.  Gilfillan,  of  Stirling,  from  whom  I  received  valuable 
information  respecting  the  Sabbath  question  iu  Scotland. 

At  Edinburgh,  I  had  profitable  interviews  with  Dr.  Greville, 
Secretary  of  the  "  Sabbath  Alliance ;"  Professor  Miller,  of  the 
University,  and  author  of  "  Physiology  of  the  Sabbath  ;"  Rev.  Dr. 
Cunningham,  President  of  the  Free  College ;  Rev.  Mr.  Cameron, 
of  the  "  Christian  Treasury ;"  Mr.  Bayne,  of  the  "  Witness,"  and 
others  :  and  became  familiar  with  the  methods  successfully  adopted 
for  the  protection  of  the  sacred  day  in  past  years.  Little  active 
effort  is  employed  at  present:  happily,  little  is  needed.  As  a 
people,  the  Scotch  "  Remember  the  Sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy  " 
as  in  no  other  land,  excepting  Wales ;  and  they  love  to  trace  the 
connexion  between  this  national  trait  and  their  high  state  of 
worldly  thrift  and  religious  advancement. 

The  temptation  is  irresistible  to  sketch  the  interior  Sabbath 
arrangements  of  a  Scottish  Christian  family,  as  an  illustration  oli 
the  blended  holiness  and  happiness  of  the  home  day,  and  as  a  refu- 
tation of  the  alleged  connexion  of  "  gloom"  with  sacred  hours. 
An  intimate  friend  and  correspondent,  whose  hospitalities  I  had 
enjoyed  on  the  Clyde,  in  1853,  had  recently  transferred  his  summer 
home  to  the  southern  part  of  Scotland.  Letters  at  Edinburgh 
kindly  ui-god  a  visit,  which  embraced  the  Sabbath.  My  friends 
have  a  large  household,  with  children  ranging  from  infancy  to 
early  manhood.  They  are  in  affluent  circumstances,  and  occupy  a 
-high  social  position.  While  actively  concerned  in  the  various 
schemes  for  benefiting  their  country  and  the  world,  the  duties  of 
domestic  life  are  discharged  with  remarkable  system,  fidelity,  and 
success. 

Saturday  is  spent  as  peculiarly  a  social  day,  when  the  ])arents 
•  interest  themselves  in  the  amusements  of  their  children,  and  seek 


THE   SABBATH   IN   SCOTLAND.  5 

to  cultivate  their  affections.  At  night,  the  little  ones  collect  their 
tools  and  noisy  plaj'things.  and  put  them  aside  till  the  Sabhath  ia 
past.  But  the  smaller  children  have  the  iise  of  the  newest  and 
most  attractive  of  their  quiet  toys — the  mother  deeming  it  inex- 
pedient to  remove  the  means  of  diversion  from  the  hands  of  those 
who  are  not  old  enough  to  enter  into  the  spiritualities  of  the  day, 
and  to  Avhom  some  form  of  amusement  is  as  necessary  as  food  or 
sleep.  These  amusements,  however,  are  to  be  quiet,  so  as  not  to 
disturb  those  of  maturer  years,  who  have  Sabbath  occupations  ap- 
propriate to  their  age.  By  means  of  dissected  pictures,  a  large 
letter-box,  drawing  diagrams  of  missionary  and  Bible  scenes,  and 
like  devices,  the  tenants  of  the  nursery  are  interested  by  the  hour. 
The  older  children  attend  their  mother  for  their  morning  prayers 
and  texts — praying  in  their  own  language,  followed  by  her  petitions 
in  their  behalf — always  remembering  to  pray  for  the  Sabbath.  At 
morning  family  worship,  which  is  attended  by  children  and  ser- 
vants, only  the  narrative  parts  of  Scripture  are  read — the  portion 
for  the  day  having  been  explained  to  the  children  by  the  mother 
on  the  previous  evening.  After  breakfast,  the  children  go  in  turn, 
beginning  with  the  youngest,  to  the  library,  where  they  meet  their 
father,  who  has  been  furnished  with  the  daily  record  of  their  con- 
duct and  progress  in  study,  and  who  prays  and  converses  with  each 
child.  The  topics  of  conversation  during  the  day  are  drawn  from 
the  various  objects  of  benevolence  in  which  the  family  are  inte- 
rested— the  Sabbath  schools  in  which  they  teach ;  the  religious 
sei'vices  they  attend ;  the  books  they  are  reading,  etc. ;  leaving  no 
need  of  resorting  to  the  worldly  matters  of  the  secular  days.  All 
is  cheerful  and  free  from  constraint  or  "  cant,"  The  "  charity- 
purse,"  replenished  from  week  to  Aveek  by  rewards  for  good  con- 
duct or  self-denials,  is  opened  on  Sunday  morning,  and  the  decisions 
of  the  previous  evening  as  to  the  amount  to  be  contributed  to  one 
or  more  of  the  twelve  objects  embraced  in  their  benevolence  are 
carried  out.  The  missionary  cause  is  a  favorite,  four  boxes  having 
been  added,  at  the  request  of  the  children,  to  the  one  oi-iginally 
procured  for  India.  Missionary  maps,  pictures,  and  curiosities,  add 
interest  to  their  family  meeting  for  missions. 

After  public  worship  and  dinner,  each  child  tells  a  story,  a  hymn 
is  sung,  and  the  texts  learned  during  the  week  are  repeated;  but 
no  lessons  are  learned  on  the  Sabbath,  even  by  rote  :  it  is  in  no 
sense  to  be  a  tasJc  day.  When  the  younger  children  have  retired, 
the  more  advanced  read  the  notes  of  the  sermons  they  have  heard 
(I  can  testify  to  the  accuracy  of  some  of  their  reports)  ;  and  later 
in  the  evenijig  the  servants  assemble  for  fahaily  reading,  and  expo- 


6  THE   SABBATH   IN   LONDON. 

sition  of  the  Scriptures,  with  the  aid  of  maps  and  diagrams,  closing 
with  prayer.  This  service  Lists  an  liour  or  more,  and  is  prized 
highly  by  those  for  whose  benefit  it  is  designed. 

Such  is  the  routine  for  the  Sabbath  in  one  of  the  Christian  house- 
holds of  Scotland.  Can  one  expect  to  witness  a  more  beautiful  or 
instructive  sight  till  he  reaches  heaven  ?  The  influence  of  such  a 
Sabbath  is  as  visible  as  light :  it  will  be  lastmg  as  eternity.  The 
order  of  the  family  is  perfect.  The  affectionate  obedience  of  the 
children  is  admirable.  Unrestrained  familiarity  with  their  parents ; 
easy  grace  in  their  intercourse  with  strangers  ;  quick  intelligence 
alike  in  secular  and  sacred  things ;  an  unselfish  interest  in  all 
around  them ;  a  disrelish  for  everything  mean  and  vulgar ;  a  cheer- 
ful and  even  frolicksome  temper  ; — such  are  the  fruits  of  this  Sab- 
bath training.  Religion  is  in-wrought  with  all  the  associations  of  a 
happy  childhood  and  youth,  and  hallows  and  ennobles  every  joy. 
Ask  one  of  the  inmates  of  that  home  about  the  "  asceticism"  and 
"  gloom"  of  the  Sabbath,  and  they  will  tell  you  the  words  have  no 
place  in  their  vocabulary  ;  that  it  is  the 

"  Day  of  all  the  week  the  best, 
Emblem  of  eternal  rest." 

I  am  aware  that  such  an  example  of  Sabbath  observance  can 
only  be  imitated  fully  by  families  somewhat  similarly  blessed  with 
means  and  leisure.  But  every  Christian  parent  may  gather  profit- 
able hints,  and  may  be  incited  to  the  more  perfect  improvement  of 
the  precious  hours  for  personal  and  domestic  cultin-e  in  spiritual 
things.  And  those  to  whom  the  Sabbath  is  a  weariness  may  see 
how  immeasurable  is  the  loss  to  a  family  in  foregoing  the  priceless 
privileges  and  neglecting  the  high  duties  illustrated  in  the  preced- 
ing sketch. 

I  may  add  that  my  friend,  whose  residence  is  remote  from 
churches,  has  fitted  up  his  stone  barn  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the 
neighboring  peasantry.  When  I  parted  with  him,  two  colporteurs 
were  receiving  their  outfit  from  the  stores  of  religious  books  and 
tracts  in  his  parlor,  for  a  "  fair  "  in  a  neighboring  town.  It  is  to 
his  Christian  zeal  that  Scotland  is  mainly  indebted  for  the  mtro- 
duction  and  successful  ooeration  on  a  large  scale  of  the  system  of 
colportage. 


THE   SABBATH    IN   LONDON. 

A  Sabbath  in  London  afforded  less  satisfaction  than  those  lu 


THE  SABBATH  IN  LONDON.  7 

Scotland.  Notwithstanding  the  general  suspension  of  business  in 
respectable  quarters,  and  the  orderly  observance  of  the  day  by  a 
large  part  of  the  population,  thousands  of  petty  shops  were  open 
for  traffic ;  omnibuses,  railways,  and  cabs,  continue  their  trijDS — with 
few  exceptions — and  many  forms  of  desecration  exist.  The  nota- 
ble exception,  in  the  complete  suspension  of  mail  deliveries  in  the 
metropolis,  is  honorable  to  the  government  and  people  of  London, 
Sydenham  Palace,  the  Zoological  and  Kew  Gardens  are  opened  to 
shareholders  on  the  Lord's  day ;  and  strenuous  efforts  are  making 
by  the  "  National  Sunday  League "  to  open  the  British  Museum 
and  the  National  Galleries,  a  petition  to  this  effect,  numerously 
signed  by  professors  of  universities  and  literary  men,  having  been 
recently  presented  to  Parliament  under  the  leadership  of  Lord 
Stanley.  This  measure  is  likely  to  be  urged  at  the  next  session  of 
Parliament,  and  will  test  the  strength  of  the  fi'iends  of  a  British 
Sabbath  in  contrast  with  a  Continental  Sunday.  There  would  be 
less  ground  for  apprehension  as  to  the  result,  if  the  leading  news- 
paper journals  of  Great  Britain — unlike  those  of  the  United  States 
— were  not  under  the  control  of  men,  indiiferent,  or  hostile  to  the 
interests  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  if  its  friends  trusted  less  to  class 
influence  and  prescriptive  claims,  and  more  to  popular  conviction. 
The  example  of  concession  in  England  to  Continental  influences 
would  be  disastrous  to  this  country ;  and  every  true  friend  of  morals 
and  religion  among  us  must  desire  that  the  existing  barriers  against 
them  may  be  strengthened  rather  than  overthrown. 

I  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  repeated  interviews  with  the  experienced 
Secretary  of  the  London  "  Lord's  Day  Observance  Society  " — the 
Rev.  J.  T.  Baylee — which  has  done  most  eflfective  service  for  twen- 
ty-five )^ears.  This  organization  is  confined  to  the  Church  of 
England ;  but  co-operates  cordially  with  societies  of  a  more  general 
character,  as  occasions  arise.  In  connection  with  the  "National 
Lord's  Day  Rest  Association,"  composed  wholly  of  laymen,  of 
which  Mr.  Henderson,  of  Park,  is  President,  some  interesting  mea- 
sures are  on  foot  in  behalf  of  cabmen ;  and  recently  Miss  Marsh, 
the  benefactress  of  the  "  navvies "  and  the  authoress  of  "  Capt. 
Headley  Vicars'  Life,"  "  English  Hearts  and  English  Hands,"  etc., 
has  undertaken  an  important  mission  for  their  benefit.  The  excel- 
lent editor  of  "  The  British  Workman,"  whose  fraternal  kindness  I 
have  often  experienced  when  visiting  London,  renders  valuable 
service  to  the  Sabbath  cause  through  the  widely-circulated  journals 
under  his  control.  These,  and  kindred  efibrts,  are  associated  with 
unwonted  plans  for  popular  evangelization  in  England.  Open-air 
p!"caching  in  numerous  localities,  and  earnest  religious  services  in 


8  THE   SABBAtH   on   THE   CONTINENT. 

Exeter  Hall,  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  Westminster  Abbey,  and  else- 
where, with  the  co-operation  of  the  dignitaries  and  clergy  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  well  as  Dissenters,  all  betoken  a  revived 
state  of  religious  feeling  and  eftbrt.  The  thorough  education  and 
evangelization  of  the  masses  is  the  grand  desideratum  in  Great 
Britain.  That  would  save  the  Sabbath  :  the  Sabbath  rightly 
observed  would  secure  that. 


THE  SABBATH  OX  THE  CONTINENT. 

A  Continental  Sabbath  has  been  often  described.  By  some  it 
has  been  lauded,  and  even  commended  to  our  imitation.  It  has 
exerted  no  little  influence  in  weakening  the  restraints  of  the  sacred 
day  in  Great  Britain  and  America.  As  an  eye-witness  of  its  cha- 
racter and  influence  in  most  of  the  kingdoms  of  Europe,  Protestant 
and  Papal,  I  deem  it  a  duty  to  attempt  another  sketch,  with  the 
hope  of  undeceiving  those  who  may  have  been  betrayed  into  admi- 
ration of  a  godless  holiday. 

There  is  this  characteristic  difference  between  a  French,  and  a 
German,  or  Italian  Sunday  :— In  France  it  is  almost  wholly  a  day  of 
business  or  amusement,  without  regard  to  the  religious  element : 
while  in  other  portions  of  the  Continent  it  is  common  to  begin  the 
day  with  the  church,  and  end  it  at  the  theatre,  the  tea-garden,  or 
the  fields.  In  Home,  hideed,  government  shops  are  open,  and  the 
lotteries  are  drawn,  with  great  parade,  on  the  Sabbath — but  the 
people  must  shut  their  shops.  The  sacred  character  of  the  day, 
howevei',  is  scai'cely  recognised  throughout  the  Continent. 

A  Paris  Sunday  has  become  proverbial  for  its  godlessness.  Pass- 
ing along  its  clean  and  beautiful  streets,  you  find  the  Cafes  and 
Restaurants  crowded  with  men,  taking  their  morning  meal  and 
reading  the  newspapers  of  the  day.  Cries  of  fruit-dealers  and 
street-venders  are  everywhere  hoard — though  the  needless  abomina- 
tion of  crying  newspapers  is  not  tolerated,  even  in  Paris.  I'aviors, 
masons,  roofers ,  painters, — all  kinds  of  mechanics  are  engaged  in 
their  usual  avocations.  Places  of  business  are  universally  open  till 
midday,  as  on  other  days.  The  whirl  of  cabs  and  omnibuses  is 
even  more  constant  than  during  the  six  days  of  the  week.  I  had 
the  curiosity  to  count  the  vehicles  passing  the  Industrial  Palace, 
Champs  Elysces,  mostly  going  to  or  returning  from  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  second  Sabbath  in  August — the 
gi-and  fete  day  at  Cherbourg, — when  Paris  was  emptied  of  the 
elite  of  its  fashionable  society,  and  found  the  average  to  be  one 


THE  SABBATH  ON  THE  CONTINENT.  9 

hundred  and  forty  a  minute,  or  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty 
an  hour  !  The  grand  waterworks  at  St.  Cloud  and  Versailles  play 
only  on  Sunday.  As  the  day  advances,  the  gardens  of  the 
Tuileries  and  the  Champs  Elysees  present  a  scene  of  unrivalled 
gaiety  and  folly.  Bands  of  music  execute  lively  military  and  ope- 
ratic airs.  Gaudy  booths  are  surrounded  with  crowds  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  absorbed  by  childish  sports.  Automata,  too 
silly  for  the  amusement  of  infants,  serve  to  delight  other  groups  of 
soldiers  and  stragglers.  Goat-carriages  and  whirligigs  of  wooden 
horses  or  mimic  ships  divert  the  children  and  nurses.  As  evening 
sets  in,  the  out-door  concert  and  drinking  saloons  flaunt  their 
attractions :  brilliant  mirrors  reflect  the  fanciful  gas-jets  ;  singing  men 
and  singing  women,  accompanied  by  orchestras  below,  amuse  the 
multitude  with  comic,  and  sometimes  immoral  songs.  Every  con- 
ceivable device  for  drawing  the  people  away  from  home  and  from 
God  is  employed.  The  Cirque  de  I'Imperatrice  furnishes  its  eques- 
trian attractions  and  its  mirth-inspiring  exhibitions.  Adjacent 
public  gardens  are  thronged  with  dancers.  Operatic  and  theatrical 
amusements  add  tlieir  seductive  performances.  The  whole  lino  of 
the  Boulevards  is  fllled  with  i^eople  seated  in  front  of  the  cafes, 
sipping  their  brandied  coffee,  playing  dominoes,  or  gazing  at  the 
promenaders  along  the  broad  pavements.  Houses  and  homes  (if 
there  be  such  a  thing,  without  the  name,  in  France)  s>3em  to  be 
emptied  into  the  streets  and  places  of  amusement,  and  the  city  is 
converted  into  a  pandemonium  of  folly  and  of  genteel  or  gross  dis- 
sipation. 

Since  the  accession  of  the  reigning  dynasty,  Sunday  labor  has 
been  suspended  on  tlie  public  works  in  France ;  but  I  observed  that 
the  stupendous  preparations  for  the  Emperor's  fete  day  fire-Avorks 
in  the  Place  de  Concorde,  were  in  full  progress  on  the  second  Sab- 
bath in  August,  the  fete  occurring  on  the  succeeding  Sunday.  But 
on  Monday,  the  Sunday  workmen  were  not  there — either  because 
dissipation  or  ovei'-exertion  compelled  a  day  of  rest. 

Such,  without  more  of  detail,  is  a  Paris  Sunday.  In  the  light  of 
reason  and  of  the  Bible,  and  of  eternity,  how  does  it  look  ?  And 
Avhat  are  its  fruits?  Are  they  not  found  in  the  thriftless  condition 
of  a  vast  proUtaire  population — living  from  hand  to  moiith — rest- 
less in  spirit — ferocious  in  temper — kept  from  rebellion  by  a  numer- 
ous soldiery,  or  quieted  by  government  labor  and  food  ?  May  they 
not  be  seen  in  the  dwarfed  stature,  and  pallid  aspect,  aiid  wretched 
inefticiency  of  the  laboring  classes,  and  in  the  "Blue-Monday" 
records  of  employers  or  of  the  magistracy — the  Sunday  dissipation 
disenabling  thousands  from  Monday's  occupations,  or  sending  them 


10  THE   SABBATH   IN   SWITZERLAND. 

to  prison?  Can  they  not  be  traced  in  the  general  declension  ol 
private,  commercial,  and  political  morals — whatever  cover  the  refine- 
ment and  high  civilization  of  Parisian  life  may  throw  over  the  incon- 
ceivable iniquity  of  its  social  condition  ;  in  the  loosening  of  conju- 
gal bonds,  the  utter  loss  of  a  home  day,  and  of  all  the  restraints  and 
joys  of  home  life ;  in  the  prevalence  of  godlessness,  irreligion,  and 
infidelity  ;  and  in  the  ascendancy  of  civil  and  spiritual  despotism  ? 
Better  Avould  it  be  for  Paris,  for  France,  for  the  Continent,  that  no 
distinction  of  days  were  recognised,  and  that  the  tide  of  life  were 
to  roll  on  without  cessation,  than  that  the  Lord's  day  should  be 
thus  perverted  into  a  day  of  sinful  folly  and  universal  demoraliza- 
tion. Ceaseless  occupation,  with  all  its  physical  evils,  and  its  em- 
bruting  influence,  would  be  less  disastrous  than  this  devotion  of 
sacred  time  to  godless  pleasure. 


THE    SABBATH    IN    SWITZERLAND. 

In  Switzerland,  especially  in  Protestant  Cantons,  there  is  a  some- 
what improved  state  of  Sabbath  observance,  as  compared  with 
Paris  ;  but  even  in  Geneva,  as  in  other  considerable  towns,  there  is 
too  little  to  mark  the  day  as  one  having  religious  sanctions  or  uses. 
The  attendance  on  public  worship  is  partial  and  formal ;  and  idle 
sports,  military  parades,  bands  of  music,  steamboat  excursions,  and 
theatrical  amusements,  undo  the  work  of  the  pulpit,  and  rob  the 
day  of  its  spiritual  power.  Religious  convictions  have  a  feeble 
hold  on  the  popular  mind,  and  Popery  is  regahiing  the  strongholds 
it  lost  in  the  great  Reformation.  Recently,  the  pastors  of  the 
Established  Chui'ch  in  Geneva  and  some  of  the  other  Protestant 
Cantons  have  i-ecoiled  fi-om  the  tendencies  of  a  holiday  Sabbath, 
and  have  attempted  some  reforms  in  this  behalf  A  few  of  the 
leacling  minds  of  Switzerland,  connected  Avith  Free  Churches,  are 
in  sympathy  with  the  views  cherished  in  Great  Britain  and  America 
on  the  Sabbath  question.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Malan  has  published 
largely  on  the  subject;  and  Dr.  Merle  D'x\ubigne  has  said,  "Order 
and  obedience,  morality  and  power,  are  all  in  Biitain  connected 
with  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  ....  The  firmness  of  England 
as  to  the  Lord's  day  and  other  institutions,  is  an  essential  feature 
of  the  national  character,  and  an  imperative  condition  of  the 
greatness  and  prosperity  of  her  people." 

I  was  invited  to  address  the  "  Universal  Conference  of  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations,"  composed  of  delegates  from  Switzer- 
land, France,  Germany,  Belgium,  and  Great  Britain,  in  session  at 


THE   SABBATH  IN   GERMANY  AND   ITALY.  11 

Geneva  at  the  time  of  my  recent  visit,  and  took  occasion  to  suggest 
the  subject  of  the  sanctilication  of  the  Sabbath  as  a  fundamental 
object  of  their  labors, — giving  utterance  to  the  deliberate  conviction 
that  all  evangelizing  schemes  on  the  Continent  are,  and  must  ever 
be,  comparatively  powerless  until  the  Sabbath  is  restored  to  its 
place  as  the  King  of  Days. 


GEEMANT. 

I  was  prevented  from  rej^eating  my  visit  to  Germany,  as  I  had 
intended ;  but  through  personal  interviews  with  delegates  to  the 
Geneva  "  Conference,"  and  by  correspondence  Avith  well-informed 
parties,  I  am  happy  to  report  some  quickening  of  interest  among 
Christian  pastors,  and  in  other  influential  quarters,  in  the  due 
observance  of  the  Lord's  day.  The  subject  has  repeatedly  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  "Kirchentag," — the  immense  annual  assembly  of 
the  German  clergy, — and  the  Kings  of  Prussia,  Saxony,  and  Hanover, 
with  the  governments  of  some  of  the  smaller  duchies,  have  made 
some  movements  for  the  supjDression  of  the  grosser  forms  of  Sab- 
bath desecration.  As  neological  opinions  subside,  and  a  spiritual 
religion  revives,  this  subject  will  receive  more  earnest  attention. 
But,  as  a  whole,  the  Fourth  Commandment  is  practically  rejected 
by  both  Protestant  and  Papal  Germany  ;  and  the  blessed  institution 
is  perverted  into  a  season  of  worldly  diversion  or  revelry.  As  the 
result,  evangelical  religion  has  no  pervading  power ;  the  pulpit 
scarcely  competes  with  the  theatre  and  the  tea-garden ;  a  Reformed 
faith  has  made  little  progress  for  three  centuries,  in  the  very  seat 
of  its  early  triumphs,  and  Avhole  peoples,  formed  and  sighing  for 
freedom,  are  in  bondage. 


IIALT. 

If  one  may  judge  of  the  Sunday  habits  of  the  Peninsula  by  the 
Sabbaths  spent  in  Naples,  Rome,  Florence,  Padua,  Milan,  and 
Arona,  including  Easter  Sunday  at  Rome — there  is  little  to  be  said 
of  them  other  than  that  they  are  skilfully  adapted  for  the  diversion 
of  a  people  sporting  with  their  chains ;  and  that  we  need  search  no 
farther  for  an  adequate  cause  for  that  enervation  of  character  which 
renders  self-government  impossible.  Without  the  Bible,  and  without 
a  season  to  study  it  if  they  had  it ;  without  Sabbath  schools,  and  almost 
without  secular  instruction;  and  with  saints'  days  to  strengthen 


12  GKNEKAL    KE>IAKKS. 

Buperstltion,  and  Sabbaths  mainly  for  amusement — Italy  has 
been  the  plaything  of  foreign  despots,  and  the  hunting-ground 
of  a  corrupt  priesthood, 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

Nothing  can  be  clearer  to  the  intelligent  observer  of  European 
life  than  that  a  holiday  Sabbath  is  a  frightful  cause  of  physical, 
political,  and  moral  degradation  to  the  masses  of  the  pjeople.  A 
day  of  worldly  pleasure  for  the  rich,  makes  a  day  of  toil  for  the 
dependent  classes.  An  amount  of  labor  is  imposed  on  multitudes, 
who  need  rest  more  than  their  employers,  inconsistent  with  bodily 
refreshment,  mental  improvement,  or  spiritual  culture  ;  while  those 
to  whom  toil  is  not  made  a  necessity  are  tempted  to  the  waste  of 
money,  time,  and  health,  in  haunts  of  dissipation.  The  condition  of 
the  laboring  classes  on  the  Continent  is,  for  the  most  part,  so 
deplorable  as  to  excite  the  liveliest  sjnmpathy  of  the  traveller. 
They  are  jjoorly  fed — poorly  clad — ill-instructed — over-tashed, 
and  without  hope  of  improvement :  not  merely  or  mainly  because 
of  an  overcrowded  population  and  oppressive  governments,  but 
because  the  stamina^  of  character,  and  the  physical  and  moial 
energy  which  a  seventh  portion  of  time  devoted  to  rest  and  worship 
— to  the  family  and  to  God — would  bring,  are  lacking ;  and  God- 
given  hours  are  devoted  to  the  dram-shop,  the  tea-garden,  and 
other  enervating  and  corrupting  associations.  He  who  made  the 
Sabbath  "for  man"  has  ordained  the  connexion  between  the  sacred 
day  and  that  manliness  of  character  which  can  brook  no  bonds. 

A  Holiday  Sabbath  is  thus  the  ally  of  despotism..  It  is  a  memo- 
rable fact,  that  the  only  free  countries  in  the  world  are  those  in 
which  popular  conviction  and  legal  enactment  recognize  and  conserve 
the  sacred  character  of  the  Christian  Sabbath.  One  of  our  most 
eminent  writers,  who  has  "  made  the  French  and  Continental  mode 
of  keeping  Sunday  a  matter  of  calm,  dispassionate  inquiry  and  obser- 
vation," has  said,  "There  is  not  a  single  nation  possessed  of  a 
popular  form  of  government  which  has  not  our  theory  of  the 
Sabbath.  Protestant  Switzerland,  England,  Scotland,  and  America 
cover  the  whole  ground  of  popular  freedom;  and  in  all  these,  this 
idea  of  the  Sabbath  prevails  with  a  distinctness  about  equal  to  the 
degree  of  liberty.  Nor  do  I  think  this  result  an  accidental  one." 
How  should  it  be  "  accidental,"  when  there  is  the  best  evidence  that 
Continental  rulers  encourage  Sabbath  profanations  as  a  means  of 
unfitting  their  subjects  for  the  assertion  and  exercise  of  their  politi 
cal  rights?     The  historian  Hallam  reveals  a  pregnant  fact  when  he 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  13 

states  that  European  despots  "  liave  fov  many  years  perceived  and 
acted  on  the  principle  that  it  is  the  policy  of  government  to  encou- 
rage a  love  of  pastime  and  recreation  in  the  people ;  both  becau?e 
it  keeps  them  from  sjyeculathig  on  religious  and  political  matters, 
and  because  it  renders  them  more  cheerful  and  less  sensible  to  the 
evils  of  their  condition.''''  It  may,  indeed,  be  consistent  "policy" 
for  despots  to  pervert  the  Lord's  day  into  one  of  "pastime  and 
recreation,"  lest  their  subjects  should  "  speculate  on  religious  and 
political  matters"  and  become  "  sensible  to  the  evils  of  their  condi- 
tion." "  Yon  Cassius  thinks  too  much,"  said  the  imperial  despot 
of  Rome  ;  "  such  men  are  dangerous."  But  the  very  life  of  a  free 
government  depends,  under  God,  on  such  a  perpetual  "  speculation 
on  religious  and  political  matters"  as  the  Bible  and  the  Sabbath  and 
a  free  Gospel  prompt.  If  we  would  cling  to  our  institutions,  we 
must  cherish  the  holy  day  of  freedom  and  religion,  and  frown  on  the 
holiday  of  despots. 

A  Holiday  Sabbath  is  a  fmitfid  source  of  inmiorcdity.  One 
link  of  the  moral  law  broken,  and  that  the  central  one,  all  are 
severed.  No  truth  is  more  established  by  universal  experience 
than  that  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  parent  of  innumerable 
vices  and  crimes.  Every  magistrate,  jailer,  and  prison  chaplain, 
will  confirm  this  statement.  To  this  effect  is  the  testimony  of  the 
experienced  chaplain  of  the  Model  Prison,  London — "We  are 
called  to  minister  in  a  prison  to  few  but  Sabbath-breakers."  And  the 
chaplain  of  Clerkenwell  states,  "  I  do  not  recollect  a  single  case  of 
capital  offence,  where  the  party  has  not  been  a  Sabbath-breaker. 
Indeed,  I  may  say,  in  reference  to  prisoners  of  all  classes,  that  in 
nineteen  cases  out  of  twenty,  they  are  persons  Avho  have  not  only 
neglected  the  Sabbath,  but  all  religious  ordinances."  Not  only  the 
divine  precepts  relating  to  the  worship  of  God  are  rendered  nuga- 
tory by  trampling  on  the  Fourth  Commandment ;  but  filial  disobe-« 
dience,  michastity,  and  a  disregard  for  the  rights  of  person,  i^i'o- 
perty,  and  reputation,  stand  intimately  connected  Avith  the  voluntary 
and  habitual  violation  of  this  ordinance  of  Heaven.  The  condition 
of  the  marriage  institution  on  the  Continent,  is  a  sad  commentary 
on  the  influence  of  a  dissevered  Decalogue.  It  is  in  Paris  that 
official  records  return  more  than  three  thousand  foundlings  annually 
in  a  single  hospital.  It  is  on  the  Continent  that  marriage  is  dis- 
couraged by  the  laws  and  prostitution  legalized  and  protected. 
With  governments  of  no  more  strength  than  ours,  the  Continent 
would  reek  with  corruption.  With  such  a  state  of  morals  as  exists 
in  Europe,  our  Government  would  be  destroyed  in  a  single  genera- 
tion, if  not  a  single  year. 


14  GENERAL   REMARKS. 

A  holiday  Sabbath  is  fatal  to  the  growth  and  prevalence  of 
evangelical  religion.  Sabbath-keoi)ing  and  vital  piety  are  so  indis- 
solubly  associated  as  to  make  the  former  a  certain  index  of  the  reli- 
gious condition  of  any  community.  The  Gospel  accomplishes  its 
object  as  the  Sabbath  day  is  regarded  according  to  the  purpose  of 
its  appointment.  Germany  reads  us  a  terrible  lesson  on  this  point. 
It  was  tlie  home  of  the  Reformation,  and  would  have  been  to  this 
day,  but  for  the  folse  leaven  which  vitiated  the  sanctity  of  the 
Lord's  day.  Recoiling  from  everything  positive  and  ritual  in  the 
Papal  system,  the  reaction  of  the  Reformers  in  the  direction  of  the 
absolute  freedom  of  the  Gospel  was  a  virtual  abandonment  of  the 
Sabbath,  excepting  the  claims  of  expediency  for  its  observance. 
Such  a  bai-rier  against  selfishness  and  worldliness  proved  ina- 
dequate; and  three  centuries  of  the  fluctuating — perhaps  waning — 
power  of  a  Reformed  faith  on  the  Continent,  compared  with  the 
centuries  of  increasing  vigor  and  expansion  of  evangelical  religion 
in  Great  Britain  and  America,  attest  on  a  grand  scale  the 
vital  connexion  between  Sabbath  sanctification  and  the  ascend- 
ency of  the  Gospel.  It  will  be  found  throughout  Europe  that 
attendance  on  the  means  of  grace,  the  diffusion  and  study  of  the 
ScrijJtures,  works  of  Christian  benevolence,  all  the  signs  and  fruits 
of  a  living  faith,  are  graduated  and  may  be  determined  by  the 
measure  in  which  the  Lord's  day  is  held  in  sacred  esteem.  As  a 
general  fact,  the  Pulpit  has  little  power ;  the  masses  being  alienated 
from  its  influence,  or  disj)elling  its  impressions  by  the  misuse  of  the 
closing  hours  of  holy  time.  The  Bible  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  sealed 
book,  because  the  season  specially  designed  for  its  study  is  devoted 
to  worldly  pleasure.  All  schemes  for  popular  evangelization  are 
feebly  conducted,  and  fail  in  popular  efficiency.  The  conviction  will 
deepen  with  every  month  of  ol)servation,  that  until  the  Sabbath  in 
Europe  is  re-established  upon  its  divine  sanctions,  error  and  in-eli- 
gion  will  abound,  and  a  general  reformation  and  revival  of  a  spi- 
ritual faith  must  be  hopeless.  All  efforts  from  Avithin  or  without  to 
this  end  must  be  fruitless  until  the  grand  mistake  of' the  sixteenth 
century  be  corrected.  Such  is  coming  to  be  the  conviction  of  some 
reflecting  men  in  Germany  and  Switzerland.  It  may  be  strength- 
ened by  the  careful  guarding  and  the  increased  efficiency  of  the 
British  and  American  Sabbath  ;  and  by  the  reflex  influence  on  the 
Old  World  of  the  emigration  to  the  new,  when  that  emigration  shall 
have  been  instructed  in  the  claims  and  benefits  of  the  sacred  day, 
and  brought  under  the  power  of  a  living  Gospel. 

But  Ave  are  receiving  by  the  shipload  the  population  of  the  Con- 
tinent, to  become,  in  a  brief  period,  citizens  with  us,  of  this  free  Re- 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  15 

public.  Is  there  not  ground  of  apprehension  that  the  prejudices 
and  customs  thus  imported  may  make  a  stronger  impression  on  our 
Sabbath  habits  than  we  make  on  these  masses  who  establish  them- 
selves here?  The  population  with  which  the  emigrant  soonest  fra- 
ternizes here,  is  not  the  best  instructed  or  most  orderly.  Thus  the 
force  of  irreligious  example  may  sweep  away  the  restraints  of  the 
Sabbath  from  tens  of  thousands  of  American  households ;  and  a 
frightful  measure  of  degeneracy  supervene,  unless  counteracting 
measures  are  employed.  For  our  own  sakes,  then,  as  well  as  for 
the  sake  of  the  temporal  and  spiritual  well-being  of  these  "  strangers 
in  a  strange  land,"  and  for  the  sake  of  the  lands  from  which  they 
come,  we  need  to  invigorate  the  Sabbath  sentiment  of  the  nation, 
and  to  guard  at  every  point  against  the  incursion  of  an  immeasura- 
ble evil.  A  Continental  holiday  Sabbath  would  work  our  speedy 
destruction.  AVith  the  characteristic  enterprise  and  recklessness  of 
our  people,  and  with  our  almost  negative  government,  what  is  a 
day  of  recreation  and  folly  on  the  Continent,  would  si^eedily  become 
a  day  of  universal  traffic  or  of  wild  dissipation  here.  Labor  Avould 
soon  have  no  rest,  and  worldliness  no  intermission :  universal  god- 
lessness  and  irreligion  would  rush  in  to  monopolize  the  time  that  we 
now  give  to  repose  and  worship. 

I  have  returned  to  my  native  land  with  deepened  impressions  of 
the  value  and  necessity  to  all  its  highest  interests  of  a  divinely 
appointed,  sacredly  observed  Sabbath,  and  of  the  indispensableness 
of  judicious  and  persistent  efforts,  like  those  contemplated  by  your 
Committee,  for  its  sanctification.  It  is  time  that  the  tendencies  to 
its  desecration  were  rebuked  by  the  manly  Christian  sentiment  of 
the  nation.  It  is  high  time  that  invasions  of  principles  and  usages 
as  old  as  our  institutions,  and  vitally  related  to  their  purity  and 
perpetuity,  should  be  repelled ;  that  the  right  of  Christian  citizens 
to  the  unmolested  enjoyment  of  one  day  in  seven  for  public  and 
private  Avorship  were  protected ;  and  that  such  open  profanations 
of  the  Lord's  day,  by  young  or  old,  native  or  foreign-bom,  as 
interfere  with  this  right  should  be  suppressed.  That  this  work 
must  be  attended  with  difficulties,  cannot  be  doubted.  That  it  will 
encounter  opposition,  must  be  anticipated.  But  the  cost  has  been 
coimted.  And  if  there  be  an  interest  which,  more  than  another, 
may  rely  on  the  support  and  blessing  of  Divine  Providence,  is  it 
not  one  that,  by  unostentatious  effort,  would  promote  the  proper 
observance  of  His  day  who  has  styled  Himself  "  the  Lord  ol  the 
Sabbath,"  and  who  has  studded  his  word  with  the  richest  promises 
to  those  who  'Remember  the  Sabbath  Day  to  keep  it  holy.' 

R.  S.  C. 


CIVIL  AND  RELIGIOUS  VALUE  OF  THE  SABBATH. 


At  a  Meet'tnrf  of  more  than  One  Hundred  of  the  Clergy  of  New  York 

Citi/,  tlie followinc/  Resolutions  were  unanimouslij  adopted: — 
Resolved : 

T.  That,  should  influences  now  at  work,  in  effecting  the  pro;:j:re.'^ive  desecration 
of  the  sacred  day,  meet  witli  no  adequate  counteraction, — travel,  traffic,  and  labor, 
newsvendiiig,  frivolity,  intemperance,  profligacy,  and  riot  must  continuously  and 
rapidly  encroach  upon  the  authority  and  liallowed  repose  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  ; 
— And  that,  by  the  influx  of  foreign  immigration  upon  our  own  shores, — should 
this  new  element  be  left  unevangelizcd — and  by  the  reaction  of  European  travel 
upon  the  character  of  our  own  people,  the  Sunday  of  Vienna,  or  of  Paris, — a  very 
carnival  of  dissipation, — may  insensibly  supplant  amongst  us  the  time-honored, 
orderly,  and  devout  Sabbatli  known  to  our  forefathers ; — And  that  such  desecration 
has  long  increased,  is  now  increasing,  and  should  be  withstood  by  all  peaceful  and 
Christian  methods. 

II.  That  the  day  of  holy  rest,  to  a  land  bearing  the  Christian  name,  and  to  a 
republic  based  on  equal  rights,  has  the  highest  Civil  Worth.  l^Ian  needs  it,  physi- 
cally, as  a  season  when  Labor  may  wipe  off  its  grime,  and  breathe  more  freely  after 
the  week's  exhau.stion,  and  when  Care  shall  slacken  its  hold  upon  the  frame  and  the 
heart.  Man  needs  it,  morally^  to  rise  by  its  aid  out  of  engrossing  secularities  and 
materialism  to  the  remembrance  of  his  spiritual  interests,  his  final  account,  and  liis 
eternal  destiny.  Toil  needs  it  to  rescue  its  share  of  rest,  and  its  season  of  devotion 
from  the  absorbing  despoti.sm  of  Capital;  and  Capital  weeäs.  it,  to  shield  its  own 
accumulations  from  the  recklessness  and  anarchy  of  an  imbruted  and  desperate  pro- 
letariate, and  to  keep  its  own  humanity  and  conscientiousness  alive.  The  State 
needs  it,  as  a  .safeguard  of  the  public  order,  quiet,  and  virtue ;  human  laws  becoming, 
however  wise  in  form,  effete  in  practice,  except  as  they  are  based  upon  conscience, 
and  upon  the  sanctions  of  Eternit}'',  as  recognized  voluntarily  by  an  intelligent 
people ;  and  God's  day  cultivating  the  one  and  reminding  us  of  the  other.  And  in 
a  Republic,  more  cspeciallj-,  whose  liberties,  under  God,  inhere  in  its  virtues,  the 
recognition, — freely  and  devoutly, — by  an  instructed  nation, — of  God's  paramount 
right.s,  is  the  moral  underpinning  requisite  to  sustain  the  superstructure  of  raan'.s 
riglits ;  and  without  such  support  from  religion, — not  as  nationally  established,  but 
as  personally  and  freely  accepted, — all  human  freedom  finally  moulders  and  topples 
into  irretrievable  ruin. 

III.  Tliat,  as  to  its  Religious  Value,  this  day  of  sacred  rest  has  the  strongest 
claims  upon  all  Christians,  however  differing  as  to  its  true  origin,  and  whether  they 
trace  it  back  to  Eden,  to  Sinai,  or  to  the  Saviour's  tomb,  as  finding  there  its  real 
commencement.  They  need  the  observance  of  the  day,  as  the  season  of  their  assem- 
blies and  ordinances,  and  as  furnishing  one  great  bond  of  their  fraternal  communion. 
In  its  relations  to  this  world,  the  Church  requires  it  to  conserve  and  to  extend  its 
religious  influence  and  as  the  channel  of  a  yet  wider  evangelization.  In  its  relationa 
to  the  heavenly  world,  the  Church  needs  it  for  its  collective  prayers,  intercessions, 
and  thank.sgivings:  and  that  thus  it  may  embody  the  image,  and  enjoy  the  antepast 
of  tiie  endless  rest  to  which  it  inspires  in  right  of  Christ's  victorj'',  on  this  day  con- 
summated, over  Sin,  Death,  and  Hell.  And  the  God,  who  is  the  Giver  of  all  time, 
never  having  .surrendered  to  ordinary  uses  this  His  own  reserved  season,  the  infrac- 
tion by  man  of  God's  claims  here  is  ingratitude,  attempting  robbery,  and  perpetrat- 
ing sacrilege,  as  against  a  Bounteous  and  Sovereign  Creator. 

The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  Sabbath  Committee: — 
NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 


E.  L.  Beadlk,  M.D. 
Nathan  Bisiior. 
William  A.  Bootu. 
Robert  Carter. 
Thomas  C.  Doremus. 
John  Elliott. 


Fred.  G.  Foster. 
David  Hoadlf.y. 
Horace  Holden. 
J  NO.  E.  Parsons. 
Gustav  Schwab. 
Wm.  a.  Smith. 


Otis  D.  Swan. 
William  Tri'slow 
W.  F.  Van  Wagenen. 
William  Walker. 
F.  S.  Winston, 
0.  E.  Wood. 


James  W.  Beekman,  Rcc.  Secretary/.    [    Russell  S.  Cook,  Cor.  Secretary, 
J.  M.  Morrison  (President  of  Manhattan  Bank),  Treasurer, 

^  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NE'WT  YOEK. 


!                                                  !l 

!  . 

THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC: 

1 

1.  EXTENT   AND   ACCESSORIES. 

2.  ILLEGALITY. 

3.  WASTEFULNESS. 

4.  ENGENDERS   PAUPERISM. 

5.  CAUSES   CRIME. 

6.  PROMOTES   LAWLESSNESS. 

7.  TENDB   TO   IRRELIGION. 

8.  REMEDIES   SUGGESTED. 

JBOCUMJENT    No.    V. 

THE    NEW-YORK:    S^JBTJA.TII    C  OMITyriXTEE . 

NEW-YORK: 

JOHN  A.    GRAY,  PRINTER,   16   &   18   JACOB   ST., 

PIRE-PROOP      BUILDINGS. 

1859. 

1 

DOC.  No,  5. 


THE    SUNDAY    LIQUOR   TEAFFIC. 


The  records  of  our  Criminal  Courts  reveal  the  humiliating  fact 
that  our  day  of  weekly  rest  is  sadly  perverted  and  abused.  The 
period  divinely  allotted  for  the  renovation  of  the  vital  powers  after 
six  days  of  toil,  and  for  needful  attention  to  sacred  interests  after  the 
engrossment  of  the  week  in  secular  duties,  is  shamefully  employed  for 
purposes  of  dissipation  and  wickedness.  The  home  day — "the  poor 
man's  day" — intended  by  its  beneficent  Author  as  the  season  for  the 
cultivation  of  all  kindly  Christian  virtues,  and  the  strengthening  of 
every  manly  principle,  is  made  the  occasion  of  temptation,  strife,  and 
misery  to  numberless  families,  and  of  drunkenness  and  crime  to  very 
many  of  the  sons  of  toil.  The  blessings  and  restraints  of  the  Lord's 
Day  yield  to  the  seductions  of  the  dram-shop.  In  defiance  of  public 
sentiment,  and  of  the  public  authorities — without  right  or  reason  or 
law — the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  is  persisted  in  with  heartless  rapa- 
city. It  is  the  object  of  this  paper  to  inquire  into  the  nature  and 
extent  of  this  evil,  and  to  urge  the  prompt  application  of  some  ade- 
quate remedy. 

Tlie  Temperxance  question,  as  such,  and  the  grave  topics  of  morals, 
and  of  political  economy,  connected  with  the  subject  of  excise,  are 
foreign  from  the  purposes  of  this  document.  It  is  in  its  relations  to 
the  desecration  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  that  we  now  have  to  do  with 
the  traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors  :  believing  that  how  disastrous  soever 
that  traffic  may  be  to  human  interests,  temporal  and  eternal,  its  evils 
are  immeasurably  increased  when  associated  with  the  profanation  of 
sacred  time ;  and  that  whatever  views  may  be  entertained  of  the 
morality  and  expediency  of  the  traffic  itself,  there  can  be  no  vindica- 
tion of  its  claim  to  a  practical  monopoly  of  trade  on  the  day  when 
legitimate  business  is  generally  suspended,  in  obedience  to  a  natural 
law  and  to  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 


2  EXTENT   AND  ACCES30EIES   OF  THE  TRAFFIC. 

EXTENT  AND  ACCESSOKIES   OF    THE   TKAPFIC. 

It  appears,  from  the  official  returns  of  the  Police  Department,  that 
the  whole  number  of  dram-shops,  lager-beer  saloons,  and  places  for 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  in  this  city,  is  seven  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine;  and  they  are  rapidly  increas 
ing.  Only  seventy-two — or  1  in  100 — are  licensed  !  Estimating  the 
whole  number  of  families  at  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand,  this 
would  give  one  dram-shop  for  Q:ic\iffteen  and  a  half  families  ;  while 
in  some  wards  the  ratio  can  not  be  less  than  one  for  each  eight  or  ten 
families. 

It  is  stated  on  the  highest  official  authority,  that  at  least  two  thirds 
of  these  drinking-places — or  five  thousand  one  hundred  and 
eighty-sis,  of  the  nearly  eight  thousand — carry  on  their  traflSc 
on  Sunday :  and  that  they  are  almost  invariably  kept  by  aliens 
or  naturalized  citizens. 

If  we  estimate  the  average  number  of  proprietors  and  attendants, 
who  are  deprived  of  their  day  of  rest  to  pander  to  the  debased  appe- 
tites of  their  customers,  at  two  for  each  dram-shop  and  saloon,  (some 
of  the  larger  employ  a  score  or  more,)  it  will  make  at  least  ten  thou- 
sand persons  who  are  robbed  of  a  j)recious  right  every  recurring  Sab- 
bath. It  is  believed  that  the  low  average  of  twenty  visitors  to  each 
of  these  Sunday  dram-shops  and  saloons — some  of  which  count  their 
customers  by  thousands — would  be  quite  safe  :  but  this  would  give 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  patrons  of  a  demoralizing 
business.  And  if  we  take  $5  as  the  average  amount  expended  at 
each  shop,  (in  many  cases  it  is  known  to  be  hundreds,)  it  would  give 
an  aggregate  of  $25,930  wasted  every  Sunday,  chiefly  by  the  poor 
and  laboring  classes,  for  the  means  of  intoxication  and  ruin  ;  or  a 
total  of  $1,348,360  for  the  Sundays  of  the  year !  The  statement  in 
one  of  our  daily  journals,  {^The  Evening  Post,)  on  the  authority  of  the 
proprietor  of  a  lagcr-beer  theater,  that  not  less  than  fifty  thousand 
glasses  of  beer  had  been  sold  at  his  establishment,  (amounting,  at 
5  cents  a  glass,  to  $2500)  on  a  sii^gle  Sabbath,  (Dec.  26,  1858,) 
though  probably  an  exaggeration,  would  serve  to  show  that  the  above 
estimates  are  far  within  the  truth. 

But  there  are  accessories  to  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  only  less  in- 
jurious and  offijnsive  than  its  direct  evils.  It  seems  to  gather  around 
it  whatever  is  seductive  and  demoralizing.  Without  ocular  demon- 
stration, it  would  be  difficult  to  credit  the  facts  as  to  the  variety  and 
extent  of  the  temptations  to  vice  provided  in  the  saloons,  halls,  and 
theaters,  open  and  thronged  every  Sabbath  of  the  year,  in  the  very 


THIS  TRAFFIC   ILLEGAL.  3 

heart  of  our  city.  "  The  Bowery  "  abounds  with  them,  and  they  are 
springing  up  with  fearful  rapidity  in  all  parts  of  the  city  where  our 
immigrant  population  have  planted  themselves.  All  of  the  larger 
establishments  have  bands  of  music,  which  are  a  nuisance  to  the 
neighborhood  ;  and  most  of  them  have  theatrical  performances,  sing- 
ing and  dancing,  both  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day, 
Hundreds  of  people,  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  ages,  crowd  around 
narrow  tables,  on  which  liquors  are  served  to  all:  and  remain  for 
hours  drinking,  smoking,  and  perhaps  gambling — while  low  comedies, 
or  vulgar  plays,  are  acted.  More  than  one  thousand  persons  were 
counted  in  each  of  four  such  places  on  a  single  Sunday  night.  In  one 
of  them,  there  were  several  billiard-tables  ;  a  shooting  gallery ;  and  an 
exhibition  of  pictures  for  pay  :  and  besides  these  diversions,  added  to 
comedy  and  tragedy,  there  were  four  raffling-places  where  "  every 
throw  wins ;"  a  roulette-table,  and  other  modes  of  gambling,  in  full 
operation  under  the  same  roof,  at  the  same  time — and  that  the  time 
claimed  for  Himself  by  the  "  Lord  of  the  Sabbath  !"  A  fearful  pro- 
portion of  the  frequenters  of  such  places  are  mere  lads — of  the  age  and 
character  figuring  so  sadly  on  the  records  of  our  Police  Courts. 

Thus  the  Sunday  sports  of  the  worst  cities  of  the  continent  ot 
Europe  are  imported  and  foisted  on  our  land,  and  with  them  the  worst 
morals  of  the  worst  classes  of  the  worst  countries  of  the  old  world. 
The  restraining,  elevating  influences  of  the  home,  the  sanctuary,  and 
the  Sabbath — without  which  character  must  lack  the  healthful  moral 
tone  necessary  to  self-government — are  all  wanting ;  and  the  baser 
passions  are  left  to  uncontrolled  sway.  As  a  result — with  the  lack  of 
the  elements  of  self-government,  and  of  the  rigid  exercise  of  govern- 
mental authority  to  which  they  have  been  accustomed — we  have 
growing  up  in  the  midst  of  us  a  vast  population,  impatient  of  the  re- 
straints of  law ;  berating  and  undermining  the  institutions  that  give 
them  shelter ;  and  ready  for  anarchy  or  rebellion,  when  their  imagin- 
ary rights  are  questioned,  or  their  "  liberty  "  —  to  do  wrong  —  is 
abridged. 

THIS   TKAFFIC   ILLEGAL. 

The  spirit  of  our  laws  is  accordant  with  that  of  the  laws  of  Heaven, 
in  this  regard,  that  it  discourages  and  prohibits  all  ordinary  traffic  and 
servile  labor  on  the  Sabbath.  It  looks  toward  the  securing  of  a 
universal  and  inalienable  right  by  a  universal  restriction.  It  restrains 
the  rapacity  of  employers  by  rendering  contracts  for  Sunday  labor  or 
Sunday  traffic  null  and  void,  with  the  same  humane  intent  with  which 
it  provides  that  ten  hours  shall  be  the  legal  limit  of  a  day  of  toil. 
And  so  far  from  exempting  the  trade  in  liquors  from  the  general  pro- 


4  ACTION   OF  POLICE   COMMISSIONERS. 

hibition,  our  statutes  are  explicit  in  their  hostility  to  that  most  need 
less  and  injurious  of  all  the  forms  of  Sunday  profanation. 

By  §  21,  chapter  628,  of  the  Laws  of  1857,  the  sale  or  gift  of  "  any 
intoxicating  liquors  or  wines  on  Sunday,  by  any  inn,  tavern,  or  hotel- 
keeper,  or  person  licensed  to  sell  liquors,"  is  made  "  a  misdemeanor," 
with  the  penalty  of  imprisonment  not  more  than  twenty  days. 

By  the  laws  of  1857,  chapter  569,  §  21,  it  is  enacted  that,  "  It  shall 
not  be  lawful  for  any  person  to  publicly  keep  or  dispose  of  any  intoxi- 
cating liquors  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  called  Sunday,  or  upon 
any  day  of  public  election,  under  a  penalty  of  fifty  dollars  for  each 
offense,  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered  by  the  District  Attorney,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Police  Contingent  Fund  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  o-f  the 
Board  of  Police  to  strictly  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  section,  by 
its  proper  orders." 

By  an  ordinance  of  the  Common  Council,  passed  in  1855,  the  sale 
of  intoxicating  drinks  "  without  being  licensed  according  to  law,  or 
being  so  licensed,  the  traffic  in  the  same,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
called  Sunday,"  is  declared  to  be  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  fine 
or  imprisonment  for  each  ofiense. 

It  is  not  seen  how  there  could  be  greater  explicitness  in  intention  or 
terms  than  is  found  in  these  laws  and  ordinances.  And  the  Act  defin- 
ing the  duties  of  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Police,  among  other  re- 
quirements, such  as  "  to  preserve  the  public  peace  ;  to  prevent  crime 
and  arrest  oflfenders ;  to  guard  the  public  health,"  etc.,  specifically 
charges  that  Board  "  to  see  that  all  laws,  relating  to  the  observance  of 
Sunday  .  .  .  .  ,  are  properly  enforced ;  and  to  obey  and  enforce  all 
ordinances  of  Common  Councils,  which  are  applicable  to  police  or 
health." 

ACTION   OF   POLICE    COMMISSIONERS. 

One  of  the  earliest  "  General  Orders"  issued  by  the  Superintendent 
of    Police,  contemplates  the  enforcement  of  these  laws.     It  is  as 

follows ; 

Office  op  the  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Police, 
413  Broome  Street,  Corner  of  Elm. 
General  Order,  No.  6. 

New- York,  July  bth,  IRSt. 
For  tlie  preservation  of  the  peace  of  the  city,  and  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  21st  Sec.  of  the  Act  entitled,  "An  Act  to  establish  a  Metropolitan 
Police  District,"  etc.,  you  are  directed  to  instruct  the  several  Patrolmen  under  your 
charge,  to  strictly  enforce  the  law,  by  causing  to  be  closed  on  the  Sabbath  all 
places  where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold,  and  in  case  of  any  violation  of  the  law, 
to  report  the  same,  that  its  penalties  may  be  enforced. 

If  any  member  of  the  Patrol  force  neglect  the  performance  of  this  duty,  you  will 
report  him  forthwith.  F.  A.  Tallmadqe. 


ACTION  OF  POLICE   COMMISSIONERS,  0 

The  then  District  Attorney,  (Mr.  Hall,)  in  his  circular  to  patrol- 
men, accompanying  the  above  order,  says  : 

"  The  public  sale,  or  keeping  of  liquor  upon  Sunday,  is  forbidden,  not  hecause  the 
article  is  liquor,  but  because  the  law  for  thirty  years  has  forbidden  the  sale  of  any 
thing  on  that  day  (except  meats,  fish,  and  milk,  before  nine  o'clock  A.M.)  It  is 
forbidden,  not  because  the  Police  law,  or  the  new  license  law,  first  forbid,  for  the 
Kevised  Statutes  forbid  it,  and  the  Ordinance  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
monalty, passed  in  1855,  forbid  it.  All  these  prohibitions  are  concurrent.  Whilst 
it  may  be  a  new  thing  to  close  shops  on  Sunday,  the  law  itself  on  the  subject  is  no 
novelty.  *  *  *  xhe  undersigned,  being  charged  by  law  with  a  duty  whose 
disobedience  renders  him  liable  to  a  prosecution  himself  for  a  misdemeanor,  submits 
the  following  plan  of  instructions  to  patrolmen  : 

"  Take  the  foregoing  explanations  of  the  law,  and  carefully,  but  politely,  inform 
every  vender,  not  only  of  liquors,  but  of  all  wares  and  merchandise  on  Sunday,  of 
the  provisions,  and  request  an  immediate  closing  up  of  the  establishment,  in  such 
a  way  as  to  indicate  to  the  public  that  no  sale  is  expected.  *  *  *  if  he  re- 
fuses or  neglects — or  if,  under  pretense  of  closing,  still  '  publicly  keeps,  and  dis- 
poses of  wares,'  then  each  patrolman  will  please  to  fill  up  the  blanks  below,  and  at 
close  of  Sunday,  file  with  Inspector,  who  will  send  them  to  the  undersigned  tor 
prosecutioB." 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Police,  Feb.  2od,  1858,  ordered 
the  collation  and  publication  of  the  laws  and  ordinances  "  respecting 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,"  and  directed  the  Superintendent  to 
issue  an  order  instructing  the  captains  of  police  to  enforce  them,  and 
to  report  on  Monday  of  every  week  all  violations  thereof ;  the  Super, 
intendent  being  further  directed  to  "  report  to  the  District  Attorney 
the  names  of  the  persons  violating  them,  so  that  they  may  be  prose- 
cuted in  pursuance  of  law."  On  the  23d  day  of  December,  the  Police 
Commissioners  are  stated  to  have  issued  new  and  more  stringent 
orders  to  the  same  effect. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  General  Superintendent  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police,  presented  Aug.  1,  1858,  shows  that  no  less  than  nine- 
teen thousand  nine  hundred  and  two  (19,902)  complaints  for  the  viola- 
tion of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Laws  had  been  lodged  in  the  District 
Attorney's  office  during  the  year,  in  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  order 
and  instructions  ;  and  the  number  of  complaints  since  made,  swells 
the  aggregate  to  twenty-six  thousand.  It  appears  that  forty-five 
convictions  were  had  for  violations  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law,  a 
year  or  more  since,  and  fines  imposed  :  but  that  in  every  instance  the 
executions  were  returned  by  the  Sheriff  unsatisfied — no  property 
being  found  on  which  to  levy  ! 

Meanwhile  two  Grand  Juries  have  presented  in  impressive  terms 
the  evils  of  this  form  of  Sabbath  desecration.     In  February,  1858, 


6  IT   WASTES  MONEY  AND  HEALTH. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  present  that  a  serious  and  growing  evil,  is  the  disregard,  bj 
certain  classes  of  the  public,  of  the  laws  designed  to  preserve  the  due  observance 
of  the  Sabbath.  *  *  In  some  of  the  most  populous  sections  of  the  city,  on  the 
afternoons  and  evenings  of  the  Sabbath,  theatrical  exhibitions,  secular  concerts, 
bowling  and  pistol  galleries,  juggling  shows,  dancing-houses,  bands  of  music,  tip- 
pling saloons,  and  all  species  of  lawless  entertainments  are  maintained,  in  open 
violation  of  law,  and  in  disregard  of  public  authorities.  To  these  lawless  places 
are  attracted  vast  numbers  of  the  unguarded  youth  and  demoralized  maturity  of 
both  sexes,  and  dissipation,  quarrelling,  and  frequent  violence  are  among  the  con- 
sequences. Independently  of  the  annojance  and  offense  which  these  disturbances 
create  to  the  law-observing  and  Christian  portion  of  the  community,  the  fact  that 
the  laws  may  thus  be  openly  violated,  and  the  constituted  authorities  fail  to  secure 
their  due  observance,  can  not  but  produce  the  most  pernicious  effect  upon  the  ill- 
disposed,  who  participate  in  these  lawless  gatherings,  as  well  as  those  who  are 
encouraged  in  their  evil  course  by  the  inefficient  administration  of  the  law.  "We 
would  recommend  that  the  laws  for  the  suppression  of  these  exhibitions  be  rigidly 
enforced,  and  that  it  be  made  the  special  duty  of  the  Police  to  suppress  them  by 
the  undeviating  execution  of  the  law.  It  can  not  be  denied  that  these  unlawful 
gatherings  are  among  the  fruitful  causes  of  engendering  in  the  corrupted  youth  of 
our  city  the  fearful  tendencies  to  crime  which  are  daily  manifested  in  our  criminal 
courts." 

In  their  presentment,  the  Grand  Jury  of  October  say  : 

"  The  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  by  persons  frequenting  the  numerous  drinking, 
dancing,  and  singing  saloons,  scattered  broadcast  over  the  city,  is  a  subject  of  con- 
stant complaint,  and  calls  for  prompt  and  efficient  action  on  the  part  of  the  authori- 
ties for  its  suppression.  The  Grand  Jury  is  in  possession  of  facts  showing  that 
about  twenty  thousand  complaints  for  the  violation  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  have 
been  reported  by  the  police,  not  one  of  which  has  been  prosecuted.  It  is  the  opin- 
ion of  the  Grand  Jury  that  every  law  respecting  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath 
should  be  rigidly  enforced,  at  least  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  prevent  an  interference 
with  the  peace  of  those  who  prefer  to  devote  the  day  to  higher  and  loftier  purposes." 

We  proceed,  without  .pausing  to  comment  on  the  legal  aspects  of 
the  subject  thus  presented,  to  consider  some  of  the  economical  and 
moral  hearmgs  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 


IT   'WASTES   MONEY   AND   HEALTH. 

The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  is  wasteful.  It  robs  the  laboring  man  of 
his  money,  strength,  and  character.  No  one  can  frequent  the  Sunday 
dram-shop  without  becoming  a  poorer,  feebler,  worse  man  than  before. 
It  is  the  unanimous  testimony  of  respectable  physicians  that  periodical 
rest — one  day  in  seven — is  necessary  to  the  healthy  action  of  the 
mental  and  physical  powers  ;  and  that  continuous  labor,  or  unnatural 
excitement,  exhausts  the  vital  energies  and  shortens  life.     Home,  with 


IT  ENGENDERS   PAUPERISir.  7 

its  quiet  joys ;  the  church,  with  its  blessed  instructions,  furnish  the 
Saturday-night  and  Sunday  refreshment  needed  by  man's  nature  ;  and, 
to  take  the  gathered  earnings  of  the  week  to  the  dram-shop,  is  to  '  spend 
money  for  that  which  is  not  bread,  and  labor  for  that  which  satisfieth  not.' 
By  a  godless  alchemy  the  sweat  of  the  brow  is  converted  into  poison 
for  the  father  of  the  family,  instead  of  bread  for  his  children.  A 
fevered,  enervated  workman  goes  forth  on  Monday  to  his  toils — if  in- 
deed he  is  not  compelled  to  take  that  for  a  day  of  rest,  in  place  of  the 
wasted  and  worse  than  wasted  Sabbath — instead  of  the  strong,  healthy, 
clear-headed  man  of  sobriety.  The  season  for  repairing  the  machinery 
of  life  has  been  made  a  period  of  unnatural  wear  and  tear,  and  it 
works  badly.  The  time  given  for  invigorating  the  moral  powers  has 
been  employed  in  depraving  them  ;  and  the  opportunity  for  learning 
and  doing  the  will  of  God,  and  preparing  for  eternity,  is  devoted  to 
the  profanation  of  the  Lord's  Day,  and  to  the  companionship  of  evil 
men  and  seducers. 

IT   ENGENDERS   PAUPEKISM. 

The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  must  be  held  accountable  for  a  large  part 
of  our  increasing  pauperism.  A  sober.  Sabbath-keeping  pauper  would 
be  an  anomaly  in  a  country  where  honest  labor  is  amply  employed 
and  rewarded.  Indolence  and  improvidence  contribute  their  quota 
indeed  to  the  army  of  the  poor,  but  it  is  no  more  than  a  corporal's 
guard  compared  with  the  full  ranks  furnished  from  the  recruiting  sta- 
tions found  at  almost  every  corner  of  the  streets.  Besides,  in- 
temperance is  the  foster-parent  of  idleness  and  thriftlessness.  Our 
alms-houses  are  filled  to  overflowing  with  the  class  whose  weekly 
earnings  have  found  their  way  into  the  money-box  of  the  Sunday 
dram-shop  ;  and  our  charities  are  demanded  in  this  or  other  forms  for 
wretched  families,  one  or  both  of  whose  parents  have  poured  down 
their  own  throats  the  fruits  of  their  daily  toils,  and  perhaps  those  of 
their  children  too.  The  custom  of  employers  of  paying  off  their  hands 
on  Saturday  facilitates  the  designs  of  the  liquor-dealers.  With  a  full 
purse,  the  social  drams  of  Saturday  night  awaken  the  appetite  for 
deeper  Sunday  drinking  ;  and  with  the  return  of  working-days  comes 
a  "  blue  Monday,"  with,  perhaps,  lost  occupation,  unpaid  rent,  a 
heart-broken  wife,  and  starving  children  —  a  family  ruined.  What 
terms  are  strong  enough  to  characterize  a  traffic  that  multiplies  its 
snares  along  the  borders  of  a  semi-mendicant  population,  to  entrap 
the  laboring  man  and  seize  his  hard  earnings  on  his  only  leisure  day — 
robbing  him  of  all  his  manly  attributes,  sending  him  forth  a  loathsome 


8  IT  ENGENDERS  PAUPERISM. 

drunkard,  and  consigning  him  and  his  fanfiily,  at  last,  to  the  eleemosy- 
nary institutions  supported  by  the  sober  and  virtuous?  By  what 
right  do  thousands  of  men,  contributing  little  or  nothing  to  the  sup- 
port of  government,  many  of  them  owning  no  allegiance  to  that  gov- 
ernment, thus  impose  a  burden  of  a  million  of  dollars  a  year  on  the 
honest  capital  of  the  city  1  And  on  what  pretext  do  they  pile  up 
misery  and  woe  in  ten  thousand  desolated  homes  1 

A  reference  to  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Govei'nors  of  the  Alms- 
Ilouse  for  1857,  (p,  66,)  shows  that  only  about  ten  per  cent  of  the  in- 
mates of  the  "  Island  Hospital "  were  "  temperate" — more  than  sixty 
per  cent  being  either  "  intemperate"  or  "  habitual  drunkards,"  and 
twenty-five  per  cent  "  moderate  drinkers."  Nearly  seventy  per  cent 
(1982)  of  the  whole  number  of  sick  paupers  (2810)  were  between  the 
ages  of  seventeen  and  thirty  ;  and  of  these  eighty-four  per  cent 
(1706)  were  drinkers  of  intoxicating  liquors,  mostly  to  excess. 

The  Fourteenth  Annual  Report  of  the  "  Association  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor,"  speaks  of  "  drunkenness  as  the  cause  of 
an  overwhelming  amount  of  poverty  and  suffering  in  this  city.  It 
throws  into  the  shade  all  other  causes  of  wretchedness.  Our  nearly 
four  hundred  almoners,  who  have  made  more  than  thirty  thousand 
visits  to  the  poor  the  past  year,  with  one  voice  attest,  that  it  ingulfs 
in  its  fiery  deluge  all  hopes  for  the  educational,  economical,  and  social 
elevation  of  large  masses  of  the  people.  And  such  is  its  peculiar 
virulence  that  it  neutralizes  to  a  frightful  and  lamentable  extent  the 
benevolent  labors  it  renders  necessary.  Facts  and  figures  in  support 
of  these  statements  might  be  piled  up  almost  without  limit.  But  the 
public  conscience  seems  already  benumbed  and  paralyzed  by  their 
accumulation." 

The  Fifteenth  Annual  Report  of  the  same  excellent  Institution, 
speaking  of  the  tendencies  of  the  movement  for  promoting  Sabbath 
observance  to  benefit  the  poor,  says  :  "  All  secularization  of  the  Sab- 
bath, by  unnecessary  toil,  traffic,  and  by  frivolity,  intemperance,  and 
pleasure-seeking,  directly  tends  to  deprive  the  working  classes  of  their 
rest-day ;  and  without  strong  countervailing  forces  to  resist  the  insid- 
ious and  constant  encroachments  on  holy  time  in  this  city,  the  labor- 
ing classes  will  not  only  be  deprived  of  their  Sabbath,  but  also  of 
those  invaluable  ameliorating  influences  which  are  inseparable  from 
its  proper  observance.  Every  effort,  therefore,  to  rescue  the  Sabbath 
from  desecration  should  be  welcomed  and  sustained  by  all  M'ho  would 
at  once  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  p'oor  and  industrial  classes, 
and  of  humanity  generally." 


IT   CAUSES   CRIME, 


IT     CAUSES     CRIME. 


The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  is  a  prolific  cause  of  crime  and  disorder. 
Both  drunkenness  and  Sabbath-breaking,  besides  their  own  inherent 
immorality,  are  severally  related  as  causes  to  a  large  part  of  the 
wrongs  and  evils  which  infest  society.  The  former  scarcely  needs 
illustration  or  remark.  The  latter  is  more  insidious  in  its  influence, 
affecting  the  foundations  of  moral  character ;  though  rarely  ac- 
knowledged as  a  cause  of  crime  till  remorse  or  penitence  for  wrong- 
doing leads  to  a  review  of  the  steps  by  which  the  prison  or  the  gal- 
lows has  been  reached.  Then  it  is  common  to  trace  the  divergence 
from  the  path  of  rectitude  to  neglected  or  violated  Sabbaths.  The 
Chaplain  for  eighteen  years  of  Clerkenwell  Prison,  testified  before  a 
Committee  of  the  British  House  of  Commons,  that  "  nearly  seven 
thousand  prisoners  had  annually  passed  under  his  care — at  the  lowest 
calculation  one  hundred  thousand  in  all — and  that  the  leading  causes  of 
crime  had  been  impatience  of  parental  restraint,  violation  of  the  Sab- 
bath, evil  associations,  especially  with  abandoned  females,  and  drunk- 
enness arising  from  attending  public-houses,  tea-gardens,  etc."  "  I 
do  not  recollect,"  he  says,  "  a  single  case  of  capital  offense,  where  the 
party  had  not  been  a  Sabbath-breaker.  Indeed,  I  may  say,  in  refer- 
ence to  prisoners  of  all  classes,  that  in  nineteen  cases  out  of  twenty, 
they  are  persons  who  have  not  only  neglected  the  Sabbath,  but  all  reli- 
gious ordinances."  Another,  who  had  "  attended  not  less  than  three 
hundred  and  fifty  Newgate  prisoners  to  execution,"  states,  under  oath, 
that  "  nine  out  of  ten  have  dated  their  departure  from  God  to  the 
neglect  of  the  Sabbath."  Sir  Matthew  Hale  bore  substantially  the 
same  testimony,  and  but  expressed  the  truth  known  to  every  observ- 
ant magistrate,  when  he  said  :  "  Of  all  persons  who  were  convicted  of 
capital  crimes  while  on  the  bench,  I  found  a  few  only  who  would  not 
confess  that  they  began  their  career  of  wickedness  by  a  neglect  of  the 
duties  of  the  Sabbath,  and  vicious  conduct  on  that  day." 

Now,  combine  these  twin  causes  of  crime  and  disorder,  as  in  the 
Sunday  Liquor  Traflic — the  one  depraving  the  conscience,  obliterating 
the  sense  of  God  and  eternity,  and  undermining  all  moral  and  reli- 
gious convictions  ;  and  the  other,  dethroning  reason,  and  stimulating 
the  passions — and  we  need  go  no  farther  to  find  an  adequate  cause  for 
nine  tenths,  if  not  nineteen  twentieths,  of  the  grosser  forms  of  crime 
which  imperil  and  disgrace  our  crime-cursed  city. 

It  is  an  instructive  fact  in  our  municipal  history,  that  down  to  the 
period  of  the  Repeal  in  1834  of  the  Ordinances  for  the  protection  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  those  prohibiting  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  on 


10  IT  CAUSES  CRIME. 

that  day,  no  necessity  existed  for  a  Sunday  Police.  The  city  governed 
itself  on  the  Lord''s  Day,  so  long  as  Sunday  dram-shops  were  closed  / 
but  soon  after  the  demoralizing  influence  of  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic 
was  thus  extended,  crime  and  disorder  began  to  increase ;  until,  in 
1839,  it  became  necessary  to  pass  an  ordinance  authorizing  the  ap- 
pointment of  Sunday  ofliicers.  (See  Ordinance,  chapter  xxxviii.  Title 
II.  for  1839.)  The  sluices  of  immorality  had  been  thrown  open — we 
hope  unwittingly — and  the  current  of  iniquity  has  rolled  on  with  in- 
creasing volume  to  the  present  day  :  when,  with  a  full  force  of  Police 
on  duty,  as  on  other  days,  the  Sabbath  has  become  the  carnival  of 
evil-doers  ;  and  the  arrests  for  crime  and  disorder  on  Sunday  almost 
uniformly  exceed  those  of  any  other  day  of  the  week.  Such  a  result 
was  apprehended  by  the  friends  of  good  morals  at  the  time ;  for  in 
1840  we  find  a  committee  of  intelligent  citizens,  including  Thomas 
De  Witt,  Anson  G.  Phelps,  James  C.  Bliss,  and  R.  M.  Hartley, 
remonstrating  with  the  then  Mayor  in  terms  like  these  : 

"  God  forbid  that  our  municipal  authorities  should  deliberately  in- 
tend to  multiply  the  violations  of  the  Sabbath,  siadi  pari  passu  increase 
the  curses  of  drunkenness  amongst  us  ;  yet  such,  to  an  alarming  ex- 
tent, has  been  the  effect.  In  proof  of  this,  it  may  suffice  to  state,  that 
shortly  after  the  repeal  of  the  above  law,  it  was  ascertained  that 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  nine  liquor-shops  were  opened  on  the 
Sabbath ;  and  in  1839,  as  again  ascertained  by  actual  enumeration, 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-two  were  opened  on  that  day  for 
its  desecration  !" 

After  twenty  years  of  the  bitter  experience  of  a  most  suicidal 
policy,  the  Mayor  and  Commonalty  of  1855  passed  an  ordinance  to 
arrest  the  desolating  influence  of  this  traffic  :  but  meanwhile,  evil 
habits,  and  the  love  of  gain,  and  the  foreign  element  of  population, 
had  so  increased  as  to  defy  legal  restraint ;  and  popular  degeneracy 
had  reached  such  a  point  as  to  throw  the  reins  of  government  into 
the  hands,  chiefly,  of  the  very  parties  who  had  imbruted  our  electors, 
and  overthrown  our  moral  safeguards.  The  record,  in  another  part 
of  this  document,  of  the  fruitless  attempts  to  carry  into  effect  the 
most  wholesome  and  necessary  laws,  affords  a  sad  comment  on  the 
perils  of  legislation,  tending  to  weaken  the  barriers  erected  again&t 
human  rapacity  and  debasing  appetite. 

The  statistics  of  crime  read  us  a  terrible  lesson  as  to  the  existing 
state  of  things.  It  appears  from  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Governors 
of  the  Aims-House  and  Prisons,  that  of  the  27,845  commitments  to 
prison  in  this  city  during  the  year  1857,  23,817  were  of .  persons  of 
"  intemperate  habits,"  of  whom  nearly  ten  thorsand  (972G)  were 


IT  CAUSES  CRIME. 


11 


females  !  That  is,  more  than  five  sixths  of  the  criminals  for  the  year 
had  their  training  in  the  dram-shop,  and  more  than  one  third  of  the 
whole  number  were  drunken  women  !  Twenty-one  thousand  (21,278) 
of  these  criminals  were  "  foreigners,"  and  about  ten  thousand  (9568) 
could  not  read.  These  facts  are  sufficient,  in  the  absence  of  other 
data,  to  determine  the  question  as  to  the  habits  of  Sabbath  observance 
of  these  victims  of  vice,  for  it  is  known  that  our  emigrant  population, 
for  the  most  part,  consider  the  Sabbath  as  a  holiday,  and  do  not 
scruple  to  make  it  the  special  season  for  tippling  and  revelry  :  so  that 
no  violence  will  be  done  to  facts  to  attribute  this  enormous  amount 
of  crime — including,  from  a  single  District  prison,  2216  cases  of  as- 
sault and  battery,  31  with  intent  to  kill,  1225  cases  of  disorderly 
conduct,  and  46  cases  of  murder — chiefly  to  the  combined  influences  of 
intemperance  and  Sabbath  profanation,  to  say  nothing  of  the  more 
than  eight  thousand  (8279)  arrests  for  intoxication,  and  the  innumera- 
ble instances  of  crime  and  drunkenness  which  elude  the  vigilance  of 
the  police.  And  it  is  a  dreadful  aggravation  of  the  evil  that  its  vic- 
tims are  mosthj  in  the  prime  of  life — more  than  sixty  per  cent  of  the 
commitments,  including  twenty-nine  cases  of  murder,  being  of  persons 
between  ten  and  thirty  years  of  age. 

A  comparison  of  the  daily  records  of  the  arrests  for  drunkenness, 
disorderly  conduct,  and  other  misdemeanors,  aflTords  a  farther  de- 
monstration of  the  connection  between  Sunday  dissipation  and  crime. 
It  appears  from  these  official  data  that  the  number  of  arrests  by  the  Me- 
tropolitan Police  for  Tuesday  of  each  week,  (reported  on  Wednesday,) 
from  July  1,  1857,  to  December  8,  1858,  both  inclusive,  making 
seventy-six  days,  was  seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one  ; 
while  the  number  of  arrests  on  Sunday  (reported  on  Monday)  for  the 
same  period,  was  nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirteen,  as  follows : 

ARRESTS    FOR    CRIME    FOR    SEVENTY-SIX   DAYS. 


Drunk. 

Drunk  and  Disorderly. 

Miscellaneous. 

Total. 

Sunday, 

2,453 
1,928 

2,580 
1,865 

4,680 
4,068 

9,713 
7,861 

Tuesday, 

Increa'fee, 

625 

•715 

612              T  «?i'^       ! 

'                          \ 

These  figures  show  an  increase  of  eighteen  hundred  arrests  on  the 
Sabbath,  or  nearly  txoenty-five  per  cent  above  the  average  of  other 
days  during  a  period  of  eighteen  months.  That  is  to  say,  the  extra 
number  of  drunken,  disorderly,  and  criminal  ofienders  above  that 
daily  furnished  by  the  influence  of  the  dram-shop  and  other  causes 


12  IT   CAUSES   CRIME. 

for  which  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic  is  directly  responsible,  exceeds  an 
average  of  tivelve  hundred  per  annum.  And  every  reader  of 
police  reports  knows  that  a  fearful  proportion  of  homicides  and  mur- 
ders stands  connected  with  the  drunken  brawls  of  Saturday  night  and 
Sunday. 

A  further  examination  of  these  statistics  shows  that  during  the  brief 
period  at  the  accession  to  office  of  the  present  Mayor,  when  the  Sun- 
day liquor  traffic  was  partially  suspended,  the  arrests  for  drunkenness 
and  disorderly  conduct  suddenly  diminished  one  third  from  an  aver- 
age of  sixty-six  each  Sunday  to  forty-four,  or  less  than  the  average  of 
ordinary  week  days ;  and  a  more  marked  diminution  in  crime  at- 
tended a  similar  brief  experiment  of  the  preceding  chief  magistrate  of 
the  city.  These  facts  are  commended  to  the  careful  consideration  of 
political  economists,  to  our  judicial  and  police  authorities,  and  to  the 
friends  of  public  morals.  They  correspond  substantially  with  the 
criminal  statistics  of  other  countries — the  result  of  the  "  Forbes 
McKenzie  Act "  in  Scotland,  by  which  all  traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors 
is  suspended  between  eleven  o'clock  Saturday  night  and  eight  o'clock 
on  Monday  morning,  having  been  to  abate  one  third  of  the  crime 
previously  committed.      (See  Appendix,  p.  24.) 

It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  Sunday  dram-shops  are  the  centres  of 
resort  for  criminals  and  parties  meditating  crime.  The  police  in  pur- 
suit of  burglars,  thieves,  and  murderers  seek  them  most  commonly 
in  these  accustomed  haunts.  It  is  not  long  since  an  establish- 
lishment  of  this  character  in  the  Twelfth  Ward  was  found  to  be  the 
home  of  a  gang  of  burglars,  the  implements  and  fruits  of  their  crime 
being  found  on  the  premises. 

Before  dismissing  this  topic,  the  influence  of  the  Sunday  liquor 
traffic  in  depraving  our  youth  should  be  more  distinctly  alluded  to. 
It  would  seem  that  the  evenings  of  the  week  would  furnish  sufficient 
temptations  to  dissipation,  folly,  and  crime,  with  all  the  allui-ements 
of  the  theatre,  the  gambling-house,  and  the  brothel ;  but  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  the  seeds  of  ruin  are  not  more  thickly  sown  on  the 
Sabbath  than  during  the  entire  week  beside.  Young  men  and  lads 
are  then  wholly  at  leisure.  Thousands,  perhaps  tens  of  thousands, 
of  apprentices  and  clerks  have  no  home  in  the  city  to  attract  ,or  re- 
strain them.  The  cheerful-looking,  well- warmed  and  lighted  "  saloon" 
presents  its  seductions  ;  vicious  companions  invite  and  lead  the  way  ; 
thus  step  by  step  the  incautious  youth  is  led  in  paths  of  present 
pleasure  and  future  ruin.  It  is  from  this  class  that  our  "  shoulder- 
hitters,"  "  Dead  Rabbits,"  and  other  clubs  of  disorderly  and  danger- 
ous rowdies,  recruit  their  ranks.     The  precocity  in  wickedness  found 


IT   PEOMOTES   LAWLESSNESS.  13 

among  the  lads  of  the  city,  rendering  our  public  streets  places  of  peril 
for  man  or  woman  in  some  districts,  is  in  no  small  measure  due  to 
the  training  received  in  Sunday  dram-shops  and  lager-beer  saloons. 

IT   PKOMOTES   LAWTiESSNESS. 

It  seems  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic 
engenders  the  spirit  of  lawlessness  and  contempt  for  rightful  authority. 
It  is  carried  forward  in  known  and  avowed  defiance  of  law.  The 
legal  requisition  for  excise  license  is  almost  universally  disregarded. 
The  positive  prohibition  by  State  and  Municipal  law  against  Sunday 
sales  is  openly  contemned.  The  illegal  and  immoral  practices  asso- 
ciated with  the  traffic  are  continued  without  concealment.  The  inter- 
position of  the  police  is  unavailing.  The  remonstrances  of  Grand 
Juries  are  scorned.  Public  sentiment  and  the  rights  of  quiet  citizens 
are  alike  disregarded.  Thus  every  Sunday  dram-shop  becomes  a 
centre  of  disorganizing  influences  and  a  school  of  rebellion.  How 
numerous  and  how  apt  are  the  scholars,  let  the  appalling  records  of 
crime  show  and  an  almost  paralyzed  police  testify.  The  example  of 
unchecked  lawlessness  becomes  contagious.  The  recklessness  with 
which  the  most  daring  outrages  are  perpetrated,  and  the  impunity  for 
the  vilest  criminals,  have  become  proverbial.  Nor  can  there  be  hope 
of  amendment,  or  of  the  restored  majesty  of  law,  so  long  as  the 
present  attitude  of  the  Rum  Power  is  maintained.  If  our  system  of 
government  is  not  strong  enough  to  suppress  evils  universally  ac- 
knowledged, inseparably  connected  with  pauperism  and  crime,  breed- 
ing rebellion,  and  leading  on  to  anarchy  or  despotism,  let  it  be  con- 
ceded at  once ;  and  let  us  abandon  our  free  institutions  in  form  as  in 
fact  to  the  control  of  a  few  hundreds  or  thousands  of  Sunday  liquor 
dealers.  But  if  half  a  million  freemen  still  choose  to  be  free,  then 
must  they  accept  the  issue  forced  upon  them,  and  at  all  hazards  sus- 
tain our  constituted  authorities  in  the  suppression  of  lawlessness, 
whether  among  foreign  or  native-born,  young  or  old,  in  filthy  cellars 
or  gilded  saloons,  on  secular  or  sacred  days. 

IT   TENDS   TO  IBRELIGIOIf. 

The  Sunday  liquor  traffic  tends  to  irreligion  and  infidelity.  It  pre- 
sents its  temptations  in  bold  rivalry  with  the  sanctuary  and  the  Sab- 
bath-school and  all  the  means  of  moral  and  religious  culture.  It 
counteracts  every  effort  for  evangelizing  the  masses.  It  hardens  the 
conscience,  depraves  the  heart,  and  destroys  the  soul.  On  the  very 
day  that  God  calls  his  own,  it  induces  forgetfulness  of  the  beneficent 
Creator  and  of  his  holy  law,  or  leads  to  the  utterance  of  the  name  of 


14  IT  TENDS  TO  IRKELIGION— KEMEDIES  SUGGESTED. 

Jehovah  only  in  tones  of  blasphemy.  There,  where  profane  oaths 
are  prayers,  and  drunken  orgies  supply  the  place  of  Christian  wor- 
ship, thousands  of  our  youth  are  receiving  their  training  for  American 
citizenship  and  moulding  their  characters  for  eternity.  And  infidelity 
opens  its  "  Liberal  Halls"  close  by  the  centre  of  the  saturnalian 
traffic.  Now  we  have  the  most  cordial  respect  for  the  wisdom  of  our 
organic  laws,  which  secure  to  every  man  perfect  liberty  of  conscience 
and  the  right  even  of  self  immolation,  if  he  will,  on  the  altar  of  appe- 
tite, error,  or  irreligion  ;  but  it  is  license  and  not  liberty  that  sys- 
tematically and  for  paltry  gains,  in  defiance  of  human  and  divine  laws, 
pursues  a  traffic  which  tempts  others,  and  especially  the  unsuspicious 
youth,  to  the  destruction  of  body  and  soul  on  the  very  day  of  mercy 
and  salvation.  Society  owes  it  to  its  own  purity,  nay,  to  its  very 
existence,  to  dry  up  these  fountains  of  misery  and  ruin,  that  its  foun 
tains  of  life  may  send  their  healing  waters  to  thirsting  souls. 

REMEDIES   SUGGESTED, 

The  following  suggestions  as  to  remedies  for  the  protean  evils  under 
review,  may  serve,  at  least,  to  direct  attention  to  the  subject ;  we  shall 
rejoice  when  other  and  more  comprehensive  plans  are  suggested  and 
acted  on. 

The  simple  change  in  the  Pay-day,  from  Saturday  to  Monday  or 
Wednesday,  if  general  among  employers,  would  lessen  greatly  the 
temptations  to  Saturday  night  and  Sunday  debauchery,  increase  the 
chances  for  the  expenditure  of  wages  for  the  benefit  of  families,  and 
promote  the  interests  of  every  class  of  employes.  "  Blue  Monday" 
would  become  obsolete ;  or,  if  it  did  not,  the  number  of  tardy,  ner- 
vous workmen  would  be  diminished.  Some  of  the  most  extensive 
establishments,  manufacturing  and  mercantile,  have  found  their  ac- 
couiit  in  this  change ;  and  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  master 
mechanics,  manufacturers,  and  all  others  employing  labor,  to  contri- 
bute their  influence  in  this  way  to  a  necessary  reform. 

The  vieans  ofmnocent,  healthful,  popular  recreation  on  the  evenings 
of  the  weeic,  combined  with  intellectual  improvement,  accessible  to 
the  masses  of  the  people,  and  disconnected  with  temptations  to  dissi- 
pation and  vice,  should  be  multiplied  and  encouraged. 

The  establishment  of  public  fountains,  to  which  thirsty  men  may  re- 
sort, would  be  a  measure  of  great  practical  utility,  at  comparatively 
trifling  cost.  They  need  not  be  of  marble  or  bronze,  elaborately 
wrought,  as  in  most  European  cities :  the  simplest  arrangement  by 
which  the  health-giving  Croton  could  be  easily  reached  by  the  poorest 


REMEDIES  SUGGESTED.  15 

laboring  man,  would  suffice.  Formerly  the  street-pump  partially 
supplied  this  want;  but  now  the  artisan  or  laborer  who  would  slake 
his  thirst,  can  find  almost  no  public  place  in  the  city  to  which  he  can 
resort,  with  a  feeling  of  right  to  a  cup  of  cold  water  :  and  he  is  driven 
to  a  dram-shop,  where  a  false  notion  of  self-respect  impels  him  to 
drink  that  which  costs  him  something — and  it  often  does  cost  him  more 
than  he  had  counted  upon.  As  a  preventive  of  drunkenness,  and  a 
means  of  removing  temptation  to  evil  haunts  and  habits,  it  is  believed 
that  this  expedient  would  be  found  worthy  of  trial,  to  say  nothing  of 
its  sanitary  and  humane  aspects,  which  are  far  from  inconsiderable. 

The  multiplication  of  churches,  mission  stations.  Sabbath-schools, 
missionaries,  and  all  agencies  for  poindar  evangelization^  is  a  measure 
too  obvious  to  need  discussion.  Without  these,  reforms  are  power- 
less, and  laws  inoperative.  They  should  be  prosecuted  with  qua- 
drupled resources  and  greatly  augmented  aggressive  power. 

The  correction  and  concentration  of  public  sentiment  as  to  the  evils 
and  the  perils  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  must  be  a  work  of  time ; 
but  is  indispensable  to  its  thorough  and  permanent  suppression.  The 
masses  need  to  be  convinced  that  it  is  inimical  to  their  best  interests ; 
that  it  increases  the  cost  of  rents  and  provisions  ;  that  it  steals  their 
money,  time,  health,  and  strength  ;  that  it  depraves  their  morals  ;  that 
it  shuts  them  and  their  fomilies  away  from  religious  instruction  ;  and 
that  it  destroys  their  souls.  And  our  emigrant  population  must  be 
entreated  to  forego  practices  foreign  to  the  genius  and  habits  of  the 
country  that  has  welcomed  them,  and  fatal  to  the  institutions  that 
shelter  them.  The  pulpit  and  the  press  must  bring  their  energies  to 
the  task  of  exposing  this  prolific  cause  of  political  and  moral  degene- 
racy, and  of  arousing  the  people  to  throw  off  the  deadly  incubus. 
There  is,  there  must  be  enough  of  conscience  and  selfrespect  left, 
when  rightly  appealed  to,  to  secure  a  manly  attitude  on  the  part  of  the 
friends  of  order  and  morals,  on  a  question  of  this  nature  ;  and  it  needs 
nothing  more  to  check  the  desolations  wrought  by  an  unauthorized  in- 
vasion of  sacred  time  with  the  most  odious  and  destructive  of  all 
trades. 

The  Laws  and  Ordinances  against  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  can  and 
should  be  enforced.  The  existing  statutes  relating  to  this  subject,  the 
most  stringent  of  which  are  of  recent  enactment,  and  commend 
themselves  to  every  right  conscience  as  wise,  wholesome,  and  neces- 
sary to  the  peace  and  safety  of  society — but  deliberately  and  persist- 
ently violated— must  be  put  in  execution,  kindly  but  firmly,  by  the 
proper  authorities,  or  all  law  and  government  lose  their  dignity  and 
power.     In  the  case  before  us,  every  offender  has  been  repeatedly  and 


16  EEMEDIES  SUGGESTED. 

"  politely"  warned  by  the  police  to  desist  from  his  illegal  course. 
Complaints  have  been  made  by  thousands  of  individual  violators  of 
the  law.  The  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  are  specially  charged 
by  the  Act  that  gives  them  being  and  authority,  to  suppress  this 
wrong,  and  they  have  made  the  attempt  with  unquestioned  sincerity. 
It  would  seem  that,  in  such  circumstances,  the  only  sympathy  to  be 
counted  on  in  further  resistance  of  law  and  authority  must  come  from 
outlaws  and  rebels.  Courts  and  juries  and  officers  of  justice,  ex- 
pounders and  executors  of  law,  owe  it  to  their  own  dignity,  and  to  the 
community  investing  them  with  power,  to  wipe  out  the  disgrace 
brought  upon  our  institutions  by  these  fountains  of  dissipation,  law- 
lessness, and  crime.  And  the  citizens  of  New- York  owe  to  the  magis- 
tracy of  the  city,  no  less  than  to  themselves,  and  to  every  good  in- 
terest, to  support  with  manly  firmness  every  attempt  to  restore  the 
majesty  of  law,  and  the  ascendency  of  Christian  morals.  Only  then 
can  we  hope  for  the  immunities  and  blessings  entailed  for  all  time  in 
connection  with  the  precept  of  unceasing  obligation  :  "  If  thou  turn 
away  thy  foot  from  [trampling  on]  the  Sabbath,  from  doing  thy  plea- 
sure on  my  holy  day :  and  call  the  Sabbath  a  delight,  the  holy  of  the 
Lord,  honorable  ;  and  shalt  honor  him,  not  doing  thine  own  ways,  nor 
finding  thine  own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine  own  words  :  Then  shalt 
thou  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord ;  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  ride  upon 
the  high  places  of  the  earth  :  ...  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  it."     (Is.  58  :  13-14.) 

NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 

HENRY  J.  BAKER,  HORACE   HOLDEN, 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.D.,  WM.  A.  SMITH, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 

ROBERT  CARTER,  W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN. 

WARREN   CARTER,  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

THOMAS   C.  DOREMUS,  E.  0.  WILCOX, 

E.  L.  FANCHER,  F.  S.  WINSTON, 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER,  0.  E.  WOOD. 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAM,  Rcc.  Seoretanj. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Cor.  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank.)  Treasurer. 

SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW-TOKK. 


APPENDIX. 


STATEMENT    OF    TWENTY"    CITY    MISSIONARIES. 

The  undersigned,  City  Missionaries  and  Ward  Secretaries  of  the 
"  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,"  being  daily 
witnesses  of  the  demoralizing  influence  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic, 
hereby  express  our  deliberate  conviction  that  the  intemperance  and  Sab- 
bath profanation  associated  with  that  traffic,  are  the  principal  external 
causes  of  a  vast  amount  of  the  domestic  misery,  poverty,  irreligion, 
vice,  and  crime,  which  so  abound  in  our  city  ;  and  that  they  create  the 
necessity  for  a  large  proportion  of  the  public  taxes  and  private  chari- 
ties for  the  checking  of  immorality,  and  for  the  support  of  the  poor, 
while  they  counteract  both  public  and  private  efforts  for  the  moral  and 
religious  instruction  and  improvement  of  the  masses. 

We  should  regard  the  suppression  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  as 
a  blessing  to  the  young,  as  a  great  boon  to  the  families  of  the  poor 
and  laboring  classes,  as  an  indispensable  means  of  restoring  order  and 
good  morals  to  the  city,  and  as  one  of  the  most  hopeful  auxiliaries  to 
our  own  and  kindred  labors  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  benefit  of 
the  people. 

Neiv-Yorlc,  December^  1858. 


George  Hatt, 
A.  Camp, 
L.  E.  Jackson, 
James  "W.  Bishop, 
Chs.  C  Darling, 
E.  Mack, 
Calvin  Lathrop, 


Edward  Pratt, 
J.  B.  Horton, 

J.  H.  BULEN, 

James  "W.  Munroe, 
EiCHD,  L,  Horton, 
RiCHD.  Hatter, 
Henry  "Whittlesey, 


■WILLL&.M  KiRBT, 

J.  L.  Ambler, 
Isaac  Orchard, 
John  Euston, 
P.  A.  Spencer, 
A.  R.  "Wetmore,  Bee. 


18  STATEMENT  OP  R.   M.   HARTLEY,   ESQ. 


STATEMENT   OF   E.   M.   HAKTLEY,   ESQ. 

The  undersigned,  Secretary  of  the  *'  Association  for  Improving  the 
Condition  of  the  Poor,"  in  expressing  his  full  concurrence  in  the  fore- 
going statement,  would  add,  that  his  labors  for  twenty-five  years  in 
New- York  in  this  and  kindred  departments  of  philanthropic  effort, 
have  constrained  the  belief  that,  so  long  as  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic 
continues,  pauperism  and  crime  will  abound  and  increase  with  the  in- 
fallible certainty  of  cause  and  effect.  The  Annual  Eeports  of  the 
Institution  have  repeatedly  demonstrated  this  connection  ;  the  city  mis- 
sionaries, moreover,  and  all  engaged  in  domiciliary  visits  to  the  poor 
uniformly  attest,  that  Sunday  tippling  tends  directly  to  the  demoraliz- 
ation and  ruin  of  large  numbers  of  the  laboring  classes.  At  least 
one  half  of  the  charities  bestowed  on  this  and  kindred  associations,  and 
a  similar  proportion  of  the  taxes  for  the  relief  of  pauperism,  are  occa- 
sioned by  intemperance ;  and  in  his  judgment,  would  be  unnecessary, 
if  the  ravages  of  this  monster  vice  were  arrested. 

R.  M.  Hartley. 


SUNDAY    THEATRES,    «SACRED    CONCERTS,"    AND 
GAMBLING-SALOONS. 

The  following  extracts  from  an  article  in  the  columns  of  the  Daily 
"^mes,  entitled  "  Sunday  Walks  in  the  German  Quarter,"  reveal  the 
extent  of  the  evil  to  which  this  Document  directs  public  attention, 
among  one  class  of  our  population : 

"  The  Odeon  presented  a  strange  scene  to  an  American  eye  on  that  Sunda7 
afternoon.  More  than  two  hundred  men,  women,  and  children  (a  large  sprinkling 
of  the  latter)  were  ranged  along  three  lines  of  tables — all  drinliing  lager  or  some- 
thing worse,  and  listening  at  the  same  time  to  a  '  merry  play  in  two  acts,  from 
Kotzebue,'  with  orchestra,  billiards,  shooting-galleries,  etc. — and  all  for  ten  cents. 
In  the  evening,  another  theatrical  performance  for  a  crowded  house.  Dancing, 
gymnastic  exhibitions,  speech-making,  hurrahs,  and  a  flood  of  lager-beer — such 
was  the  Sabbath  in  that  place." 

THE  people's  garden, 

"  Now  let  us  look  in  at  the  People^ s  Garden,  (Volks  Garten,)  a  door  or  two 
below  in  the  Bowery.  A  shilling  admits  you  to  the  place,  but  you  can  take  your 
wife  and  children  with  you  '  free.'  The  bill  assures  you  that  you  are  attending  a 
'  sacred  concert' — ^Eine  grosses  sacred  Concert'  But  you  become  a  little  skeptical 
about  its  '  sacred'  character  when  you  read  the  programriie  and  observe  the  sur- 
roundings. The  place  is  suspicious — ^Vaudeville  Theatre.'  The  announcements 
are  suspicious — '  Exhibition  of  a  Grand  Pot-pourrL'    '  The  Artist  Family ;  or,  the 


THE  people's  theatre.  19 

Uncle  as  an  Enemy  of  the  Theatre — a  Comic  Operette  in  four  acts.'  This  is  for 
three  o'clock  Sunday  afternoon.  The  evening  performance  seems  about  as  'sacred.' 
'The  Beautiful  Milleress;  or,  a  Secret  Passion — a  merry  play  in  one  act.'  Con- 
cluding with  '  Good  Morning,  Mr.  Fischer — vaudeville  in  two  acts.'  '  Between 
these  acts,  the  Grand  Ballet,  and  Grand  Janisary  Concert,  with  a  grand  orchestra.' 
It  all  looks  very  grand,  but  not  very  sacred.  Then  the  visitors  at  the  City  Theatre 
adjoining  are  informed  by  the  programme,  that  when  that  is  closed,  (say  at  eleven 
o'clock,)  they  can  enter  the  People's  Theatre  free — to  test  the  quality  of  the  Peo- 
ple's lager. 

"  The  surroundings  are  even  more  suspicious  than  the  amusements.  A  half- 
dozen  billiard-tables,  more  or  less,  five  raffling-stands,  a  roulette-table,  a  shooting- 
gallery,  and  some  other  forms  of  gambhng — all  in  full  blast — would  not  seem  to 
promise  a  very  '  sacred '  aflair,  to  say  nothmg  of  five  or  six  bars,  fully  manned  and 
employed. 

"  The  company  does  not  give  very  marked  indications  that '  sacred '  pleasures 
attracted  them  by  hundreds  to  the  place.  We  counted  five  hundred  and  fifty  in 
the  afternoon,  including  children,  seated  in  front  of  lager-bier  mugs,  and  listening 
alternately  to  the  band  of  music  and  the  play,  and  none  of  them  seemed  to  be 
imbibing  any  thing  more  '  sacred '  than  bad  '  lager.'  In  the  evening  there  must 
have  been  fully  eleven  hundred  in  the  same  place,  engaged  in  the  same  way.  If 
the  proprietor  would  drop  one  letter  from  his  programme,  and  Frenchify  his 
announcement  a  little — thus,  '  Sacre  Concert ' — it  would  be  more  frank,  and  vastly 
more  truthiul." 

THE  people's  theatre. 

"  But  there  is  a  People's  Theatre  as  well  as  a  People's  Garden.  It  is  in  Fourth 
street.  Let  us  look  in  there.  "What  a  spectacle  in  a  Christian  city  1  As  you 
enter,  on  the  ground-floor,  there  are  four  billiard-tables,  surrounded  by  perhaps  a 
hundred  boys  from  ten  to  twenty  years  of  age,  occupied  with  and  intent  upon  the 
game.  At  one  table,  four  lads,  not  more  than  thirteen  years  old,  are  playing — al- 
beit it  is  somewhat  difficult  for  them  to  reach  the  balls.  But  they  will  grow 
taller — perhaps  so  high,  by  and  by,  that  their  feet  wiU  dangle  in  the  air.  Across 
the  room,  and  in  front  of  the  bar,  stands  a  novel  gambling-instrument.  It  is  a 
small  brass  cannon,  from  which  balls  are  projected,  probably  by  a  spring,  and 
entering  a  curtained  aperture  a  few  feet  distant,  descend  by  an  inclined  plane,  on 
which  stand  small  wooden  pins.  Ten  tickets  are  given  out,  say  at  three  cents 
each.  The  holder  representing  the  ball  that  upsets  the  largest  number  of  pins, 
wins  twenty  cents — the  balance  of  the  stakes,  one  third  of  the  whole,  going  into 
the  pocket  of  the  proprietor.  This  machine  was  surrounded  by  as  many  lads  as 
could  see  it,  and  betting  was  as  constant  as  the  machine  could  be  made  to  work. 
The  spirit  of  the  gambling-hells  at  Romberg  and  Baden-Baden  was  in  fuU  play  in 
these  young  scape-graces,  and  the  foundations  laying  of  desperadoes— and  this  on 
tlie  Sabbath ! 

"  But  we  have  not  yet  entered  the  Theatre  proper.  This  is  but  the  ante-cham- 
ber— free  to  all,  notwithstanding  the  discontent  of  the  proprietor  on  seeing  some 
'Americans'  among  his  guests.  In  the  rear  is  a  hall,  accommodating,  in  its  way, 
one  thousand  people  or  more,  with  music,  lager-bier,  and  theatrical  performances. 
From  six  to  eight  o'clock,  notwithstanding  the  afternoon  performance,  the  people 
were  streaming  in,  ordering  their  bier  and  segar,  and  getting  ready  for  the  play. 
Nearly  one  half  of  the  company  consisted  of  women  and  children.    We  saw  hun- 


20  HARMONIA   GARDEN — THE  CITY  THEATRE. 

dreds  of  boys  and  girls  of  from  twelve  to  twenty  years,  chiefly  of  German  parent- 
age, and  a  few  who  could  be  recognized  as  Irish  and  Americans.  In  all,  there 
wore  nine  hundred  and  fifty,  by  actual  count,  entering  this  single  place  between 
the  hours  of  six  and  eight  o'clock.  The  expense  to  each  guest  can  not  average 
less  than  twenty-five  cents,  and  is  probably  twice  that  amount ;  so  that  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  at  the  lowest  estimate,  would  pass  from  the  scanty  pockets  of  the 
apprentices  and  jonmeymen  and  seamstresses,  who  seemed  principally  to  make  up 
the  group,  into  the  full  purse  of  the  proprietor  of  this  den  of  iniquity.  And  when 
the  pinching  cold  comes,  you  and  I,  good  friend,  will  have  our  sympathies  appealed 
to,  to  relieve  the  poverty  caused  by  this  Sunday  dissipation  ;  or  be  taxed  for  the 
Almshouse  expenditures,  or  the  cost  of  criminal  cases  growing  out  of  this  Sunday- 
night  debauchery." 

HARMONIA  GABDEN. 

"  Now  turn  down  into  Essex  street,  and  enter  the  Harmonia  Garden.  Your 
ticket,  which  costs  but  sixpence,  will  be  exchanged  for  you  at  the  door  by  a  long- 
shanked  sheriif's  officer,  and  you  will  find  a  spacious  hall,  say  a  hundred  feet 
square,  with  galleries  aU  around,  and  tables  for  the  accommodation  of  twelve  hmi- 
tlred  or  filteen  hundred  people.  A  band  of  music,  of  fourteen  brass  pieces,  rings  out 
waltzes  and  airs,  which  may  be  heard  for  squares  around.  Bowling-alleys,  shoot- 
iug-galleries,  and  the  usual  means  of  diversion  or  of  gambUng,  are  at  hand. 
Above-stairs  you  will  find  no  less  than  seven  billiard-tables,  occupied  mostly  by 
young  men,  playing  with  their  own  or  their  employers'  money.  It  was  at  an  early 
hour  in  the  evening  that  we  visited  this  establishment,  and  there  were  not  more 
than  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  present.  Later,  it  was  doubtless  filled. 
TiU  twelve  or  one  o'clock,  perhaps,  the  neighboring  householders  must  listen  to 
the  music  of  that  band  and  to  the  noise  of  those  revellers.  Is  it  neighborly,  is  it 
right,  to  deprive  families  of  their  day  of  rest  in  this  way  ?" 

THE   CITY   THEATRE. 

"  Now  let  us  return  to  the  Bowery,  and  drop  into  the  aristocratic  place  of  Sun- 
day amusement — the  City  Theatre.  Gambling  arrangements  are  dispensed  with ; 
lager-bier  tables  have  no  place.  The  interior  is  elegantly  fitted  up,  with  accommoda- 
tions in  parquet,  dress-chcle,  and  second  and  third  tiers  for  twelve  hundred  or  fifteen 
hundred  visitors.  At  half-past  eight  o'clock,  nearly  every  seat  and  standmg-placo 
was  occupied,  and  a  play  was  in  progress  having  the  usual  elements  of  interest, 
acted  with  admirable  talent.  The  dress-circle  was  filled  with  men  and  women, 
handsomely  dressed  and  of  genteel  manners,  including  a  largo  sprinkling  of  Jews. 
Between  the  acts,  lager  and  liquor  were  dispensed  from  the  bar  and  carried  around 
the  Theatre,  but  the  amount  drank  was  inconsiderable  compared  with  other  estab- 
lishments. Many  of  the  guests  had  undoubtedly  attended  one  or  other  of  the 
German  churches  in  the  morning,  after  the  manner  of  the  Continent,  and,  without 
a  thought  of  wrong,  finished  their  Sunday  at  the  Theatre ;  pitying,  perhaps,  the 
poor  '  Sabbatarians,'  who  cherish  the  British  and  American  notion,  that  the  Sab- 
bath day,  and  the  whole  of  it,  was  intended  by  its  Author  for  rest  and  worship, 
and  not  for  fun  and  frolic. 

"  One  more  turn,  and  our  Sunday  walk  will  be  ended  for  tliis  time.  Pass  with 
us  around  a  small  triangular  block  not  far  from  tho  City  Hall,  and  you  will  cease 
to  wonder  at  the  frequency  of  homicides  and  other  crimes  growmg  out  of  Sunday 
dissipation.    If  our  count  was  accurate,  there  were  twenty-nine  lager-bier  saloons  and 


reporter's  comments.  21 

dram-shops — some  of  them  accommodating  two  hundred  or  three  hundred  persons 
— open  and  mostly  filled  on  that  single  evening.  In  tliree  or  four  of  them,  bands  of 
music  attracted  customers.  Many  of  the  buildings  on  the  blocks  facing  the  one  in 
question,  were  similarly  occupied,  so  that  within  a  distance  of  three  hundred  feet 
square,  there  may  be  found  not  less  than  fifty  Sabbath-breaking,  law-despising 
centres  of  intoxication  and  crime." 

reporter's  comuents. 

"  We  returned  from  our  Sunday  walk  with  a  heavy  heart.  Discarding  all  ultra 
views  of  temperance,  and  disavowing  sympathy  with  extreme  '  Puritan'  notions  of 
the  Sabbath,  we  cling  to  the  old-flishioned  idea  that  there  is  a  better  way  of  spend- 
ing Sunday  than  in  tippling,  theatre-going,  and  gambling.  Good  citizens  are  made 
of  sterner  stuff  than  the  frequenters  of  such  places.  Good  men  do  not  grow  out  of 
the  boys  who  spend  their  Sundays  at  Yolks  Gartens  and  Volks  Theatres.  The 
crimes  against  society  at  which  the  fifth,  and  sixth,  and  seventh,  and  eighth,  and 
ninth,  and  tenth  commandments  are  aimed,  have  an  intimate  connection  with  the 
violation  of  the  fourth ;  so  that  the  wholesale  manner  of  desecrating  the  Sabbath, 
accompanied  with  wholesale  drinking,  rises  into  a  leading  cause — the  leading  cause 
of  the  rampant  crime  and  disorder  which  infest  our  city,  and  which  have  increased 
pari  passu  with  the  multiplication  of  such  estabhsliments  as  we  have  been  visiting. 

"Another  consideration  gave  us  troubled  rest.  Every  one  of  these  establish- 
ments pursues  its  business  in  known  violation  of  law.  Not  merely  the  accompa- 
niments of  the  business — the  gambling,  which  is  a  misdemeanor;  the  bands  of 
music,  which  are  a  nuisance ;  the  theatrical  performances,  which  are  positively 
prohibited  on  the  Sabbath — but  pubUcly  keeping  and  disposing  of  any  kind  of 
intoxicating  hquors  is  expressly  forbidden  by  the  laws  of  the  State  and  the  ordin- 
ances of  the  city,  of  recent  enactment,  and  in  full  force  at  the  present  time 
Every  proprietor  and  visitor  of  these  establishments  knows  that  the  Police  Com- 
missioners, in  pursuance  of  law,  have  directed  patrolmen  to  report  offenses  against 
the  Sunday  Liquor  Law,  and  that  thousands  of  complaints  have  been  made.  Then- 
attitude,  then,  is  that  of  rebellion  against  our  constituted  authorities,  and  defiance 
of  our  laws.  And  it  involves  the  question.  Whether  a  few  hundred  keepers  of 
dram-shops  and  gambling-places  are  stronger  than  our  government  ?  That  is  an 
important  question :  there  should  be  no  delay  in  setthug  it. 

"  Then  another  thought  has  been  haunting  the  mind  ever  since  that  sad  visit  ; 
it  is  connected  with  the  future  of  those  thousands  of  young  lads  seen  in  a  single 
Sunday  night  in  places  of  sinfiil  diversion.  Whose  sons  are  they  ?  Have  they 
mothers  to  weep  over  them  ?  Have  they  homes  to  go  to  ?  Are  they  instructed 
any  where  but  here?  Whither  are  they  drifting?  How  many  of  them  are 
receiving  their  training  for  the  prison  and  the  halter  ?  What  security  has  society 
from  rowdyism  and  disorder,  if  our  youth  are  corrupted  systematically,  and  edu- 
cated in  vice  ?  Is  it  right  to  punish  juvenUe  crhninals,  and  exempt  their  teachers 
in  crime  ?  Is  it  vrise  to  leave  the  nests  of  vipers  undisturbed,  and  ran  after  the 
fledglings  that  come  from  them,  brood  after  brood  ?  If  the  present  unrestricted 
debauchery  and  ruin  of  the  Sunday  liquor  trafiSc  is  to  be  perpetuated,  would  it  not 
bo  just  that  the  proportion  of  the  nearly  two  millions  of  dollars  expended  for  the 
support  of  Police,  almshouses,  and  criminal  courts,  traceable  to  that  traflic,  should 
be  levied  on  the  proprietors  of  Sunday  dram-shops?  The  demoraUzation  and 
misery  it  carries  into  ten  thousand  homes  can  not  be  reckoned,  and  so  can  not  be 
assessed — in  this  world." 


22  "GERMAN  BEGGARS  IN  AMERICA." 


JUVENILE    CRIME. 

The  Police  Reports  in  our  daily  journals  indicate  a  measure  of 
juvenile  depravity  quite  incredible  but  for  the  known  sources  of  de- 
moralization. The  record  of  a  single  sentence-day  of  a  single  court — 
a  sample  of  other  days — contains  the  following  : 

"court  of  general  sessions. 

"  Edward  Hempson,  charged  with  burglary  in  the  third  degree On 

account  of  his  youth,  the  prieoner  was  sentenced  to  the  Penitentiary  for  one  year 
only. 

"  Charles  McDermott,  aged  eighteen  years,  indicted  for  the  murder  of  Carsin 
Coster,  pleaded  guilty  to  manslaughter  in  the  second  degree.     Sentence  deferred. 

"  James  Kenney  and  Peter  Murray,  mere  youilis,  were  convicted  of  burglary  in 
the  third  degree.  Sentenced  to  three  years  and  six  months  each  in  the  State 
Prison. 

"  John  Duggan,  aged  nineteen,  jointly  indicted  with  tM  hoy  Hart,  plead  guilty 
to  an  attempt  at  burglary  in  the  third  degree.  As  he  was  an  old  offender,  he  was 
sentenced  to  two  years  in  the  State  Prison. 

"  Thomas  Briggs,  aged  twenty-two,  was  convicted  of  burglary  in  the  third  de- 
gree.    He  was  sentenced  to  four  years  and  three  months  in  the  State  Prison. 

"  William  Brown,  a  hoy,  pleaded  guilty  to  petit  larceny,  and  was  sent  to  the 
Penitentiary  for  four  months. 

"Jane  Martin,  a  young  servant-girl,  pleaded  guilty  to  petit  larceny.  Sent  to  the 
House  of  Refuge. 

"GERMAN    BEGGARS    IN    AMERICA." 

The  December  number  of  the  Deutsche  Kirchenfreund  contains  a  sug- 
gestive article  by  the  Editor,  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Mann,  D.D.,  with  the 
above  title.  The  journal  and  its  editor  may  be  regarded  as  the  highest 
authority  on  matters  relating  to  the  Oerman  population  in  this  coun- 
try. The  article  before  us,  though  bearing  on  questions  incidental  to 
the  main  object  of  this  document,  nevertheless  furnishes  unprejudiced 
testimony  on  a  topic  of  vital  importance — the  character  and  influence 
of  beer-houses  and  their  keepers.  We  give  brief  extracts  from  a  trans- 
lation kindly  furnished  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Guldin  : 

"The  great  majority  of  these  pot-house  keepers,"  says  the  editor,  "choose  this 
occupation  only  because  they  can  make  an  easy  and  jovial  living  with  the  least 
labor,  under  the  appearance  of  an  orderly  and  allowable  profession.  If  any  thing 
is  a  disgrace  of  our  German  name,  our  numberless  German  beer-houses  are  such. 
The  evil  was  never  greater  than  now,  and  hardly  can  become  greater.  If  all  these 
tap-houses  can  subsist,  it  shows  what  a  tavern-visiting,  pleasure-seeking  nation  the 
Germans  have  got  to  be.  Their  keepers  deport  themselves  as  arrogantly  as  if  they 
were  privileged  to  scorn  publicly  all  order,  morals,  or  reverence  for  that  which  is 


VIEWS   OF  STATESMEN  AND  JURISTS.  23 

holy.  In  their  advertisements  in  our  German  newspapers,  they  abuse  the  most 
sacred  language  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  turn  it  into  mockery. 

"We  are  not  surprised  when  men  who  have  been  brought  up  as  tavern- 
keepers  in  Germany  continue  in  their  profession  here,  and  many  of  them  do  it 
in  a  respectable  manner.  But  the  great  majority  of  these  low  beer-houses  are  kept 
by  persons  who  have  been  trained  altogether  for  other  professions.  We  know 
men  in  this  country  who  have  formerly  been  German  ministers,  school-teachers, 
military  officers,  lawyers,  physicians,  merchants,  etc.,  who  have  chosen  to  keep  pot- 
houses, because  it  requires  but  little  knowledge  or  capital  to  retail  wine  and  beer 
— to  become  retailers  instead  of  customers  as  before — and  because  it  is  the  easiest 
method  thus  to  offer  CDJoyment  to  others,  instead  of  earning  their  daily  bread  in  a 
regular  laborious  calling.  We  see  weekly  many  mechanics,  whose  trade  begins  to 
become  inconvenient — such  as  tailors,  shoemakers,  etc — establish  pot-houses ;  cal- 
culating on  the  custom  of  their  nearest  countrymen  from  the  different  German 
States,  and  it  seems  that  they  hardly  ever  miscalculate. 

"Among  the  most  respectable  Germans,  who  value  the  German  name,  and  who 
are  not  unconcerned  whether  a  wholesome  moral  influence  or  a  vicious  one  be 
exerted,  but  one  voice  prevails  in  regard  to  this  sad  characteristic  of  their  country- 
men of  our  time.  And  how  could  we  look  on  without  sorrow  and  shame  ?  The 
injury  done  to  morals  is  incalculable,  as  the  doings  of  our  public  courts  bear  weekly 
testimony.  "But  we  know  what  kind  of  influence  they  exert  more  silently.  They 
every  where  draw  fathers  away  from  their  families ;  they  consume  vast  sums  of 
money  earned  by  hard  labor  which  should  be  employed  for  useful  purposes ;  they 
offer  temptation  to  gambling,  and  excite  many  low  passions  by  their  continuously 
frivolous  character ;  and  they  become  the  source  of  destruction  to  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  well-being  of  hundreds  of  families.  The  whole  business,  worse  than  pub- 
lic begging,  rests  as  a  curse  upon  the  Germans  ;  their  good  name  suffers  under  it ; 
and  a  people  who  set  the  tavern-sign  highest  in  their  national  escutcheon,  forfeit 
all  claim  to  respect.  Here  we  find  the  reason  why  so  many  German  families  cease 
to  prosper ;  why  no  earnings  are  sufiicient ;  why  in  days  of  prosperity  nothing  is 
saved  up  for  other  times.  Where  no  beggars  were  found  before,  through  these 
pot-houses  beggars  must  arise.  The  benevolent  societies  of  our  cities  experience 
enough  of  the  demoralizing  effects  of  these  places  of  lowest  sensual  gratification. 
But  do  their  keepers  care  for  this  7  And  the  German  press  is  silent  in  regard  to 
this  state  of  misery — its  tone  in  most  instances  not  being  of  a  serious  moral  charac- 
ter, and  pecuniary  considerations  having  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  question.  The 
laws  of  the  land,  even,  give  this  enormous  evil  the  form  of  legality." 

VIEWS    OF    STATESMEN"  AND    JUKISTS. 

"  I  always  felt  myself  under  obligation  to  observe  that  law  which  was  given  by 
God  himself  from  Mount  Sinai,  in  these  solemn  words,  '  Remember  the  Sabbath- 
day,  to  keep  it  holy;'  a  command  which  was  subsequently  received  and  reeribrced 
by  the  injunctions  of  the  Saviour  of  mankind.  So  far  as  propagating  opinions  in 
favor  of  the  sacred  observance  of  the  day,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  give  all  the  faculties 
of  my  soul  to  that  subject." — John  Quincy  Adams. 

"  Where  there  is  no  Christian  Sabbath,  there  is  no  Christian  morality,  and  with- 
out this,  free  governments  can  not  be  long  sustained.    As  a  civil  institution  merely. 


24:  VIEWS  OF  WORKING-MEN. 

the  Sabbath  is  wise  and  politic I  should  never  doubt  the  honesty  of 

a  man  who,  from  principle,  kept  the  Sabbath  day  holy." — Judge  McLean,  Ü.  S. 
Supreme  Court. 

THE  POLICE   COMMISSIONEES   ON"    SUNDAY  CEIME. 

After  the  first  edition  of  this  Document  had  been  published,  the 
Report  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  Commissioners  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  State,  was  issued.  The  following  paragraph  from  that  Report 
more  than  confirms  the  preceding  statements  (page  12)  as  to  the  pro- 
portionate arrests  for  crime,  etc.,  on  the  Sundays  when  the  Liquor 
Traffic  was  partially  suppressed,  compared  with  other  periods : 

"  The  laws  of  the  State,  in  respect  to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  are  openly 
violated.  Liquor  shops  and  groceries  are,  in  many  instances  opened,  and  their 
contents  vended  as  on  other  days  of  the  week.  The  Commissioners  caused  the  in- 
fractions of  the  law  to  be  noted  by  the  police,  and  reported  to  the  district  attorneys 
of  the  counties  of  New- York  and  Kings.  There  have  been  so  reported  over 
twenty-six  thousand  cases,  but  none  have  been  prosecuted  to  conviction,  and  unless 
the  Legislature  shall  compel  the  observance  of  the  day  by  severer  penalties,  and 
by  summary  proceedings,  the  onerous  duty  of  reporting  its  desecration  will  bo  use- 
less. Aside  from  the  religious  duty  of  keeping  the  day  holy  by  abstinence  from 
secular  pursuits,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  closing  of  hquor  shops  will  lessen 
the  amount  of  crime  and  of  breaches  of  the  peace.  This  is  conclusively  shown  by 
the  small  number  of  arrests  on  the  Sundays  while  the  law  was  observed,  compared 
with  the  arrests  made  when  the  liquor  dealers  learned  they  could  violate  the  law 
with  impunity.  Public  notice  was  given  on  the  5th  July,  1857,  that  all  infractions 
of  the  law  would  be  noted  by  the  poUce,  and  be  prosecuted.     The  arrests  are : 

Intox.  and  disorderly  Miscellaneous 

conduct.  crimes.  TotaL 

Sunday,  II  July, 40  30  "70 

"       18     "     40  41  81 

"       25     "     52  51  103 

"In  December  following,  when  the  practice  of  selling  liquor  on  Sunday  was 

more  general,  the  arrests  were : 

Intox.  and  disorderly  Miscellaneous 

conduct.  Crimea.  Total. 

Sunday,   8  Dec, 89  84  173 

"       15    "     92  21  119 

"      22    "     99  56  154 

"  And  now,  when  it  is  manifest  that  the  law  will  not  be  enforced,  and  ^one  are 
deterred  from  the  apprehension  of  being  punished,  the  arrests  on 

Intox.  and  disorderly  Miscellaneous 

conduct.  crimes.  Total. 

Sunday,  7  Nov., 91  65         156 

"   14  "  104  44         148 

"   21  "  120  19  199" 


^ 


nx  foil  thi[   c^abbath.  f 


THE 


FIRST     ^IsriSrTJA.L 


REPORT 


OP   THE 


NEW-YOPiK  SABBATH  COMMITTEE. 


JOHN   A.  GRAY,  PRINTER  AND   STEREOTYPER,  16   &    18   JACOB  ST 
Fibe-Proof    Buildings. 

1859. 


DOC.  No.  6. 


FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 


The  Committee  was  organized  at  a  meeting  of  citizens  in 
April,  1857.  Preliminary  investigations  were  entered  upon 
during  the  summer,  and  occasional  meetings  held  ;  but  active 
operations  were  deferred  until  November  of  that  year.  The 
opportunity  was  then  providentially  presented  of  completing 
the  organization  of  the  Committee  by  the  election  of  a  Secre- 
tary, whose  successful  experience  for  twenty  years  in  kindred 
labors,  and  whose  interest  in  behalf  of  Sabbath  observance,  as 
shown  by  the  fact  that  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  self-sus- 
tained efforts  in  continental  Europe  for  this  very  object,  indi- 
cated his  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  this  enterprise. 

But  it  was  at  the  very  height  of  the  late  commercial  revul- 
sion, and  when  the  future  of  our  personal,  corporate,  and  bene- 
volent interests  was  covered  with  a  cloud  impenetrable  to 
human  vision,  that  the  Committee  were  called  upon  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  an  enterprise  involving  the  expenditure  of  time 
and  money,  and  requiring  no  inconsiderable  measure  of  wis- 
dom, faith,  and  patience.  Yet,  would  not  the  very  disasters 
which  seemed  to  discourage  a  new  and  formidable  undertak- 
ing, tend  to  moderate  the  worldliness,  rebuke  the  selfishness, 
and  check  the  impiety  which  had  ruthlessly  trampled  on  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  and  secure  a  hearing  for  appeals  to  reason 
and  conscience  too  commonly  denied  in  seasons  of  high  pros- 
perity ?  The  Committee  thus  judged  ;  and  they  have  abund- 
ant occasion  for  gratitude  to  God  for  the  ample  reward  ac- 
corded to  whatever  of  faith,  zeal,  and  prayer  they  were  enabled 
to  exercise,  in  the  unbroken  harmony  of  their  counsels,  in  the 
success  of  their  efforts,  and  in  the  brightening  prospects  of  their 
enterprise. 

ISTearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  any  con- 
certed efforts  have  been  made  for  the  better  observance  of  the 
Lord's  day  in  this  city  ;  and  those  then  attempted  may  be  con- 
sidered perhaps  more  as  beacons  than  as  guides  for  our  own 
day.  Had  there  been  less  of  censoriousness  and  impatience, 
and  more  of  that  charity  which  "  suffereth  long  and  is  kind," 


2  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

it  is  believed  tliat  the  two  reasons  then  assigned  for  foregoing 
effort — the  indifference  of  "  ministers  and  church-members, 
and  the  impossibility  of  procuring  executive  aid — might  Iiave 
been  obviated.  The  wise  and  far-reaching  labors  of  the  late 
Dr.  Justin  Edwards,  at  a  subsequent  period,  were  eminently- 
useful  in  the  country  at  large  /  but  his  influence  was  little  felt 
in  this  city.  Occasional  efforts  have  been  made  for  the  sup- 
pression of  Sunday  news-crying  and  other  evils  ;  but  they  have 
been  mostly  spasmodic  and  ill-digested,  so  that  their  failure 
has  only  emboldened  the  profane  and  godless. 

Meanwhile  the  population  had  trebled,  with  a  vast  accession 
of  classes  from  abroad  unfriendly  to  the  Sabbath.  The  Sunday 
press  had  established  itself,  and  its  venders  monopolized  our 
streets  with  their  deafening  cries.  New  thoroughfares  radiated 
in  all  directions  from  the  city,  multiplying  the  temptations  to 
Sunday  trafiic  and  travel.  Dram-shops,  saloons,  and  theatres, 
in  spite  of  law  and  its  executors,  perverted  the  day  of  rest  into 
a  season  of  unwonted  dissipation,  folly,  and  crime.  The  Sun- 
day ordinances,  concurrent  with  the  laws  of  the  State,  which 
had  existed  from  the  foundation  of  our  Government,  had  been 
clandestinely  repealed,  and  the  sentiment  had  become  rife  that 
all  statutes  for  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  American  citizens 
to  a  weekly  season  for  rest  and  devotion  were  obsolete.  In 
endless  forms  the  sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day  was  assailed,  its 
moral  and  legal  sanctions  weakened,  and  its  benign  influences 
counteracted. 

Such  were  the  circumstances  under  which  the  Committee 
assumed  the  delicate  trust  reposed  in  them  by  their  fellow- 
citizens.  A  brief  notice  of  the  successive  measures  adopted 
during  the  year  will  show  how  that  trust  has  been  discharged. 

DESECRATION   INVESTIGATED   AND   EXPOSED. 

A  careful  investigation  of  the  extent  of  Sdbhath  desecration 
in  the  metropolis  seemed  necessary  at  the  outset,  both  as  a 
guide  and  stimulus  to  effort,  and  as  a  means  of  awakening 
public  attention.  With  this  view,  the  Committee  prepared 
and  issued  the  first  document — "  Tue  Sabbath  in  New-1  ork," 
embracing  a  brief  history  of  Sahhath  observance,  its  existing 
desecration,  and  the  catises  of  declension.  The  statement  that 
9692  places  of  business,  including  more  than  3000  liquor- 
shops,  were  open  on  the  Sabbath,  and  kindred  facts,  excited 
just  alarm.  An  abridgment  was  also  published,  in  an  eight- 
page  octavo  form,  for  popular  circulation,  entitled  "  The  Sah- 
oath  as  it  was  and  as  it  is.''''  Four  editions  have  been  printed 
— in  all,  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred  copies. 

At  the  request  of  a  Welsh  pastor,  "The  Sabbath  as  it  was 


FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT.  3 

and  as  it  is"  was  translated  into  that  language,  and  three 
thousand  copies  were  published  in  the  "  Cambro- American," 
at  the  expense  of  the  Committee,  the  translator  engaging  to 
circulate  several  hundred  copies  among  his  countrymen  in 
this  city. 

CO-OPERATION   OP    THE    CLERGY. 

Tlie  startling  facts  brought  to  light  in  the  first  document 
were  communicated  to  a  large  body  of  the  clergy  at  one  of 
their  stated  gatherings  ;  and  on  farther  consultation  with  some 
of  the  respected  pastors  of  the  city,  it  was  thought  expedient 
to  invite  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  all  evangelical  denomi- 
nations to  assemble  and  take  into  consideration  a  subject  of 
vital  moment  to  the  cause  of  morality  and  religion.  With 
gratifying  alacrity  more  than  one  hundred  of  our  clergy  re- 
sponded to  this  invitation,  meeting  in  the  rooms  of  Spingler 
Institute,  generously  tendered  for  the  purpose  by  the  Rev. 
Gorham  D.  Abbott.  The  venerable  Dr.  Spring  presided. 
Addresses  were  delivered  by  members  of  the  Committee,  and 
the  Rev.  Drs.  De  Witt,  Krebs,  Alexander,  Smith,  Bedell,  and 
others  took  part  in  the  discussion.  A  series  of  Resolutions,  re- 
ported by  a  committee  of  six  of  our  most  eminent  pastors,  of 
as  many  denominations,  was  unanimously  adopted.  These 
Resolutions  were  characterized  by  the  late  lamented  Mr.  But- 
ler, at  the  meeting  in  the  Historical  Rooms,  as  the  finest  trib- 
ute to  the  Sabbath  to  be  found  in  the  English  language.  ISTot 
far  from  a  million  copies  were  published  in  newspaper  and 
other  forms  ;  and  copies  have  been  received  from  the  interior 
of  the  State  printed  on  letter  sheets. 

Acting  on  the  suggestion  of  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  Sping- 
ler Institute  meeting,  the  Committee  issued  a  circular  respect- 
fully inviting  the  clergy  of  the  city  to  preach  simultaneously 
on  the  claims  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary last.  The  promptness  and  cordiality  with  which  the 
suggestion  was  received,  and  the  extent  of  the  cooperation  thus 
rendered,  were  most  cheering.  With  very  limited  inquiry,  it 
was  ascertained  that  the  following,  besides  many  others  of  our 
most  valued  pastors  of  various  denominations,  had  preached 
earnest  and  impressive  discourses  —  in  many  instances  se- 
ries of  discourses  —  namely,  the  Rev.  Drs.  Adams,  Alex- 
ander, Bedell,  De  Witt,  Guldin,  Hutton,  Macauley,  Mc- 
Leod,  Morgan,  Parker,  Peck,  Potts,  Prentiss,  Smith,  Spring, 
Taylor,  Tyng,  Yan  Zandt,  Wiley,  and  Williams.  Several 
thousand  copies  of  the  "  Sabbath  as  it  was  and  as  it  is"  were 
distributed  in  the  pews  of  churches  whose  pastors  entered  on 
this  discussion.  Not  less  than  one  hundred  sermons  were  thus 
delivered  on  topics  relating  to  Sabbath  sanctification,  the  in- 


4  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

fluence  of  which  it  has  not  been  difficult  to  trace  in  the  rapidly 
improving  sentiment  and  the  advancing  reforms  of  the  year : 
whatever  may  have  been  the  relations  of  this  manifestation  of 
Christian  nnity  and  quickened  regard  for  a  divine  institution  to 
the  work  of  grace  liaving  its  beginnings  and  scattering  its 
blessings  here,  but  extending  over  the  land,  and  still  moving 
onward  throughout  Christendom.  If  even  the  organs  of  infi- 
delity trace  such  a  connection  in  their  mingled  taunts  of  the 
Sabbath  and  the  Revival,  there  may  be  no  impropriety  in  this 
allusion  on  the  part  of  those  who  find  an  inspired  warrant  for 
the  relation  between  a  holy  zeal  for  the  Lord's  Day  and  the 
richest  spiritual  and  temporal  blessings. 

MEETING   OF   CITIZENS. 

Tlie  next  measure  was  to  arrest  the  attention  and  gain  the 
cooperation  of  influential  citizens.  For  this  purpose  several 
hundred  gentlemen  were  invited  to  meet  the  Committee  at  the 
rooms  of  the  Historical  Society,  on  the  evening  of  March  17. 
"Wm.  B.  Crosby,  Esq.,  presided ;  and  W.  E,  Dodge,  E.  L.  Fan- 
cher,  and  Hiram  Ketchum,  Esqs.,  the  late  Hon.  B.  F.  Butler, 
Judge  Slosson,  General  Superintendent  Tallmadge,  and  others, 
shared  in  the  discussions  of  the  occasion.  An  important  im- 
pulse was  given  to  the  object  by  this  gathering.  A  series  of 
public  meetings  was  projected  ;  but  it  was  thought  expedient  to 
forego  them,  lest  they  might  divert  attention  even  in  the  slight- 
est degree  from  the  then  absorbing  interest  in  the  immediate 
concerns  of  the  soul,  and  inasmuch  as  every  convert  to  Christ 
and  every  Christian  revived  added  a  new  friend  to  the  Lord's 
Day. 

BAILROADS  AND   THE   SABBATH. 

Somewhat  in  advance  of  the  season  for  arranging  the  time- 
tables of  our  Railroads  for  the  spring  and  summer,  the  Com- 
mittee entered  on  an  investigation  of  the  extent  and  bearings 
of  Sunday  traffic  and  travel.  The  results  were  embodied  in  a 
document  entitled  Railroads  and  the  Sabbath,  exhibiting  the 
statistics  of  Sunday  traffic  on  railroads  and  canals  ;  the  moral 
influence  of  railroads ;  the  economical  motives  for  Sabbath 
observance ;  and  the  religious  and  civil  relations  of  the  Sab- 
bath. Copies  of  this  document  were  sent  to  the  press  through- 
out the  country,  by  which  it  was  extensively  noticed  and  ap- 
proved. It  was  also  addressed  to  the  Presidents  of  all  the 
railroads  in  the  United  States  and  the  connecting  lines  in 
Canada — and  to  those  Directors  whose  addresses  were  known — 
accompanied  by  a  circular,  in  which  the  Committee  tendered 


FIEST  ANNUAL  REPORT.  Ö 

a  sufficient  number  of  copies  to  supply  every  director,  stock- 
holder, and  employe,  without  cost.  A  considerable  number 
of  orders  were  sent,  and  several  thousands  of  copies  were  thus 
circulated.  Tlie  distribution  will  be  resumed  the  coming  sea- 
son, and  arrangements  made  for  reaching  directors  and  stock- 
holders through  other  channels,  where  the  official  representa- 
tives of  great  corporations  find  it  inconvenient  to  cooperate  in 
the  undertaking.  It  is  also  the  purpose  of  the  Committee  to 
effect  a  liberal  distribution  of  this  document  among  the  popu- 
lation along  the  lines  of  those  Companies  whose  managers  con- 
tinue systematically  to  desecrate  the  day  of  rest. 

The  results  of  this  effort  were  not  expected  to  be  immediately 
apparent.  It  will  only  be  when  the  owners  of  railroads  make 
tlieir  voice  heard  in  the  management  of  these  thoroughfares 
that  a  question  of  this  sort  will  have  a  proper  adjustment.  An 
instance  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Committee,  in  which 
the  stockholders  have  "  adopted  a  resolution  expressing  their 
disapprobation  of  the  practice  of  carrying  the  mail  and  running 
the  trains  on  the  Sabbath  day,  and  pledging  the  Company  to 
cooperate  with  all  connecting  lines  to  have  the  Sunday  travel 
and  mail  service  stopped."  In  this  case  (the  "  East  Tennessee 
and  Virginia  Eailroad  Company")  each  stockholder  had  been 
supplied  with  a  copy  of  "  Railroads  and  the  Sabbath." 

The  Farmville  (Va.)  Journal  alludes  to  a  discussion  of  the 
same  question  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the  Richmond  and 
Danville  Company,  and  says:  "We  feel  assured  that  the 
mover  of  the  resolution,  requesting  the  Directory  to  adopt 
measures  to  secure  a  discontinuance  of  the  Sunday  mail  and 
passenger  trains  on  that  and  connecting  roads,  is  sustained  by 
public  sentiment  in  this  region  of  Virginia ;  and  we  hope  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  agitation  of  this  question  will 
result  in  the  much  desired  discontinuance  of  Sunday  trains. 
The  responsibility  of  the  continuance  of  the  evil  will  rest  with 
the  stockholders.  It  is  proper  to  add  that  the  opposition  to 
the  proposition  was  founded  solely  in  an  alleged  necessity  for 
carrying  the  mails  on  Sunday." 

SUIfDAY   NEWS-CKYING. 

As  the  first  practical  issue  successfully  attempted  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  with  the  opponents  of  the  Sabbath  in  this 
city,  the  efforts  for  the  suppression  of  the  Sunday  news-crying 
nuisance  may  properly  be  recorded. 

Though  far  from  being  the  most  demoralizing  form  of  Sab- 
bath desecration,  the  boisterous  crying  of  newspapers  on  the 
Sabbath  was  the  most  palpable  and  defenseless  method  of  in- 
vading the  rights  of  the  community  on  the  day  of  rest  and 


6  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

devotion.  When  public  attention  was  fairly  gained  to  the 
general  claims  of  the  Sabbath,  and  evil  practices,  which  had 
become  so  familiar  as  to  be  regarded  almost  with  indifference, 
came  to  be  viewed  as  abominations,  energetic  measures  became 
necessary  to  do  away  with  this  nuisance.  But,  warned  by  pre- 
vious failures,  the  matter  was  entered  upon  with  great  delibera- 
tion. A  respectful  note  was  addressed  to  the  proprietors  of 
the  several  Sunday  newspapers,  setting  forth  the  evil,  and  re- 
questing their  intervention  for  its  abatement — quite  in  vain. 
All  responsibility  for  the  public  wrong  was  disclaimed.  The 
whole  matter  was  characterized  as  "  much  ado  about  nothing." 
In  later  stages  of  the  discussion,  however,  most  of  the  Sunday 
journals  made  the  cause  of  the  newsboys  their  own,  and  affected 
to  think  that  the  "  liberty  of  the  press,"  with  sundry  other  vital 
principles,  were  involved  in  the  question. 

The  course  of  the  newspaper  proprietors  made  the  way  clear 
for  presenting  to  the  Mayor  and  Police  Commissioners  a 
Ifemonal,  signed  by  more  than  one  hundred  of  the  best  known 
and  most  respected  of  our  citizens,  protesting  against  the 
nuisance  as  a  school  of  vice  to  the  newsboys  themselves ;  as 
an  evil  example  to  our  juvenile  population  ;  as  an  unwarrant- 
able'monopoly ;  as  an  invasion  of  the  claims  of  courtesy  and  good 
neighborhood,  and  as  a  flagrant  violation  of  the  rights  of  our 
citizens  to  a  day  of  uninterrupted  rest,  and  requesting  its  sup- 
pression. This  Memorial,  with  the  action  of  the  Municipal 
Authorities  thereon,  and  the  comments  of  the  daily,  reli^^ious, 
and  Sunday  press,  forms  Document  ISTo.  3 — entitled  "  Kews- 
CKYiNG  AND  THE  Sabbath,"  wliicli  was  widely  circulated.  A 
small  pamphlet  was  afterwards  published,  entitled  ^^  The  City 
Press  on  Sunday  Neiüs<rying^''^  containing  farther  extracts  from 
the  editorial  columns  of  our  leading  Journals — especially  those 
relating  to  the  Recorder's  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury. 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Police  immediately  passed 
resolutions  directing  the  General  Superintendent  to  issue  an 
order  to  the  Captains  of  Precincts  "  to  enforce  the  law  prohibit- 
ing the  sale  of  wares  and  merchandise  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
also  to  prevent  the  crying  of  newspapers  on  that  day."  The 
date  of  the  order  was  May  22d,  1858. 

Tlie  Police  authorities  proceeded  with  great  forbearance  in 
obeying  these  instructions,  and  Police  Justices  have  exercised 
the  utmost  leniency  in  dealing  with  the  young  offenders — all 
aiming  at  the  suppression  of  the  evil,  ratlier  than  the  punish- 
ment of  the  authors  of  it.  In  most  parts  of  the  city,  tiie  nui- 
sance has  entirely  ceased,  and  throughout  it  is  substantially 
abated.  The  riddance  is  hailed  on  every  hand  with  satisfac- 
tion ;  and  will  be  permanent,  if  citizens  will  mdlce  immediate 
complaint  at  the  nearest  Police  station  whenever  the  attempt 


FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT.  7 

is  made  to  renew  the  offense.  Churches,  Sabbath-schools  and 
families,  as  a  general  fact,  are  no  longer  disturbed ;  and  the 
quiet  essential  to  the  Sabbath  is  now  rendered  possible  and 
actual  to  most  of  the  wearied  population  of  our  great  city.  The 
Sabbath  announces  its  hallowed  dawning  by  that  solemn  still- 
ness which  is  itself  the  voice  of  the  universal  Father  to  his 
children,  instead  of  the  profane  and  worldly  din  which  used  to 
mark  and  mar  the  day  of  God.  It  will  be  the  fault  and  the 
shame  of  our  citizens  if  the  refreshing  repose  of  the  Lord's  Day 
is  again  interrupted  by  the  cries  of  the  Sunday  newsboy. 

The  news-crying  discussion  had  a  relative  importance  far 
exceeding  its  intrinsic  merits.  This  was  well  understood  by 
friends  and  foes  of  the  movement.  For,  in  connection  witli  it, 
the  real  character  and  influence  of  the  Sunday  Press  were  re- 
vealed. How  ample  soever  the  charity  that  should  be  extended 
to  the  exasperation  of  self-interest,  the  community  at  large 
were  not  prepared  for  such  intemperate  utterances  as  have 
characterized  many  of  the  Sunday  papers  during  this  discus- 
sion."^ It  was  this  sad  development  that  led  one  of  the  most 
influential  secular  Journals  to  remark :  "  The  attempt  to  stop 
the  newsboys  from  shouting  on  Sunday  has  converted  the  whole 
tribe  of  Sunday  newspapers  [we  hope  there  are  exceptions] 
into  open,  rancorous  assailants  of  religion  and  the  Church. 
They  all  teem  now  every  week  with  the  most  vehement  abuse 
of  every  thing  connected  with  Christianity,  and  are  rapidly 
becoming  the  open  advocates  of  infidelity.  We  can  hardly 
believe  their  sales  are  as  much  injured  by  stopping  the  news- 
boys' cries  as  their  character  will  be  by  this  movement." 

Another  aspect  of  this  discussion  is  worthy  of  note.  On  a 
definite  issue  between  the  Sunday  press  on  the  one  hand,  and 
the  daily  and  religious  press,  the  Police  authorities,  and  the 
friends  of  an  orderly  Sabbath  on  the  other,  the  jntblic  sentiment 
has  sustained  the  latter  with  gratifying  unanimity.  A  more 
healthful,  manly,  Christian  regard  for  the  sacred  day  than 
many  counted  upon,  still  exists  in  this  community  ;  and  when 
occasion  requires,  it  can  express  itself  in  unmistakable  tones. 
A  kind  and  forbearing,  yet  firm  and  unflinching,  adherence  to 
the  right,  when  such  an  attitude  brought  unsparing  reproach, 
prevented  a  disastrous  termination  to  this  issue,  when  failure 

*  Few  things  contributed  more  to  the  determined  purpose  of  the  people  to  sus- 
tain the  Memorialists  against  Sunday  news-crying,  than  the  republication  of  arti- 
cles in  which  our  best  citizens  were  stigmatized  as  "  puritanical  vagabonds," 
"pinchbeck  Puritans,"  "trumpery  bigots  and  hypocritical  dullards,"  "petty 
tyrants,  with  souls  of  promoted  flunkeys,"  "  an  insolent  and  supercilious  set  of 
Pharisaical  vagabonds,"  "religious  Peter  Funks,"  "a  miserable  chque  of  fanatics 
and  hypocrites,"  "Sunday  snivellers,"  "Aminidab  Sleeks,"  and  kindred  terms. 


8  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

would  have  been  the  signal  for  new  encroacliments  on  the  Sah- 
bath,  and  for  increased  lawlessness  and  irreligion  among  our 
population.  As  it  is,  we  can  not  but  hope  that  we  have  seen 
the  worst  of  a  sad  evil,  and  that  the  moral  and  religious  ele- 
ments of  influence  will  regain  their  popular  ascendency. 

Another  phase  of  this  discussion  adds  to  its  significance.  It 
has  settled  the  miestion  of  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  the  in- 
tervention of  the  magistracy  for  the  'protection  of  the  right  of 
good  citizens  to  the  enjoyment  of  a  weeHy  day  of  rest  and 
worship.  Availing  themselves  of  some  indiscretions  on  the 
part  of  Sabbath  reformers  in  other  days,  and  of  the  legitimate 
jealousy  of  all  invasions  of  the  rights  of  conscience,  the  enemies 
of  the  Sabbath  had,  for  a  generation,  paralyzed  at  once  the 
arm  of  the  law  and  the  manliness  of  the  public  in  this  regard  : 
so  that  outrages  and  nuisances  as  illegal  as  intolerable  on  any 
day,  had  come  to  enjoy  special  immunity  on  the  Zord''s  Day, 
lest  the  attempt  to  abate  and  punish  them  should  be  decried 
as  the  prompting  of  "  ascetic  Puritanism,"  or  identified  with 
"  Church  and  state  priestcraft"  !  It  may  be  hoped  that  the 
day  of  this  unworthy  ruse  has  passed.  The  simple  distinction 
between  the  civil  and  religious  relations  of  the  Sabbath — the 
former,  as  a  sanitary,  economical,  and  beneficent  institution, 
necessary  to  the  being  and  well-being  of  civilized  society, 
guarded  from  the  invasion  of  selfishness  and  disorder  by  human 
laws ;  the  latter,  with  its  divine  sanctions,  binding  the  con- 
science to  its  sacred  observance  in  the  measure  in  which  reli- 
gious obligations  are  recognized,  but  asking  nothing  of  the 
magistracy  beyond  unrestricted  "  freedom  to  worship  God"^ — 
would  seem  to  relieve  the  whole  question  of  Sunday  laws  from 
embarrassment.  ISTo  one  thinks  of  demanding  that  the  reli- 
gious observance  of  the  Sabbath  shall  be  constrained  by  law : 
that  must  be  left  solel}'-  to  the  enlightened  conscience,  and  to 
the  promptings  of  the  reason  and  aifections.  But  free  citizens 
may  and  do  claim  that  they  shall  not  be  molested  by  the  god- 
less and  profane,  in  their  churches  or  their  homes,  while  exer- 
cising their  rights  as  citizens  and  as  worshippers ;  and  that 
protection  shall  be  extended  to  all  who  choose  to  enjoy  their 
rest  on  the  day  of  rest.  So  far  the  laws  may  go  without 
trenching  on  any  thing  more  sacred  than  selfishness  and  sin. 
And  the  public  voice  will  sustain  the  administrators  of  law  in 
intei"posing  its  strong  arm  for  the  restraint  of  all  flagrant  inva- 
sions of  the  inherent  and  inalienable  right  of  man  to  a  weekly 
season  of  repose  and  worship. 


FIEST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 


CO-OPEEATION"  OF   THE  CIVHi   AUTHORITIES. 

In  this  connection  it  is  but  just  to  allude  to  the  cordial  co- 
operation of  the  magistracy  of  the  city,  so  far  as  it  has  been 
invoked,  in  attempting  to  restrain  public  profanations  of  the 
Sabbath.  Our  worthy  Chief  Magistrate,  the  Police  Commis- 
sioners, the  General  and  Deputy  Superintendents,  the  Police 
Justices,  and  the  Captains  of  Police,  in  all  the  intercourse  of 
the  members  of  the  Committee  with  them,  have  seemed  to 
appreciate  the  conservative  principles  which  control  the  Com- 
mittee's action,  and  to  welcome  the  aid  brought  by  the  friends 
of  the  Sabbath  to  their  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  order  and 
good  morals.  At  an  early  period  of  the  year,  the  laws  relat- 
ing to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  were  collated  and  pub- 
lished under  the  direction  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police,  and  orders  were  issued  for  their  enforcement. 
Previous  orders  had  required  the  patrolmen  to  report  to  the 
District  Attorney  all  violations  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  ; 
and  no  less  than  twenty-six  thousand  complaints  have  thus  been 
lodged  with  the  prosecuting  officer.  The  suppression  of  Sun- 
day news-crying  could  never  have  been  effected  but  for  the 
calm  determination  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  force — in  spite 
of  denunciations  from  some  quarters,  and  depreciation  from 
others. 

Successive  Grand  Juries  have  presented  the  alarming  mea- 
sure of  Sabbath  desecration  as  a  leading  cause  of  crime,  and 
have  remonstrated  in  earnest  tones  against  this  prolific  source 
of  demoralization. 

The  Committee  regard  these  indications  of  an  improved  pub- 
lic sentiment  with  interest  and  hope.  While  they  would  be 
the  last  to  counsel  a  frequent  or  needless  resort  to  the  civil 
power,  it  would  seem  that  we  have  reached  a  crisis  of  lawless- 
ness and  crime,  leaving  no  alternative  between  the  exercise  of 
judicious  authority,  and  utter  anarchy.  A  government  of  law 
must  assert  its  power,  or  succumb  to  the  vices  of  alien  cohorts 
accustomed  only  to  governments  of  force.  We  can  not  but 
believe  that  the  Police,  the  Pulpit,  the  Press,  and  the  People 
of  this  city  will  be  found  stronger  than  rowdyism  and  im- 
morality, whether  in  ruffles  or  in  rags. 

CO-OPEKATIOW   OP   THE   PBESS. 

One  of  the  most  gratifying  and  hopeful  circumstances  con- 
nected with  the  Committee's  labors  for  the  year  has  been  the 
support  given  to  the  Sabbath  interest  by  the  Press,  secular  and 
religious,  of  all  parties  and  denominations.  Dissevered  from 
ultraisms  in  sentiment,  and  from  extravagance  in  plan,  the 


10  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

measures  of  the  Committee  have  so  commended  themselves  to 
the  good  sense  and  right  judgment  of  the  editorial  corps  as  to 
have  received  a  steady  advocacy  from  quarters  most  influen- 
tial in  guiding  public  sentiment.  The  archives  of  the  Com- 
mittee contain  copies  of  articles  friendly  to  the  Sabbath, 
gathered  from  the  editorial  and  other  columns  of  the  news- 
papers received  at  their  office,  of  which  an  aggregate  of  more 
than  fifteen  nniUions  (15,165,500)  of  impressions  have  heen 
printed  during  the  year — taking  the  known  circulation  of  most 
of  these  papers,  and  moderate  estimates  for  the  remainder,  as 
the  data  for  the  investigation.  We  hazard  little  in  expressing 
the  belief  that  this  aggregate  exceeds  the  entire  number  of 
copies  of  articles  on  this  subject  published  in  this  city  during 
the  preceding  quarter  of  a  centur3^  And  it  has  been  done 
with  a  degree  of  cordiality  and  ability  most  honorable  to  the 
metropolitan  press  and  to  its  enterprising  conductors. 

On  the  only  immediately  practical  issue  made  by  the  Commit- 
tee— Sunday  news-crying — the  leading  journals  of  the  city — 
the  Courier^  Journal  of  Commerce^  Co'mmercial^  Post,  Express^ 
Times,  Tribxme,  Sun,  and  JVetos,  among  the  dailies ;  and  the 
Observer,  Emmgelist,  Intelligencer,  Advocate,  Examiner,  Chro- 
nicle, and  Protestant  Churchman,  among  the  religious  papers 
— gave  an  unwavering  support  to  the  position  taken  in  the 
memorial  of  citizens  ;  and  it  is  mainly  due  to  their  influence, 
in  connection  with  the  efforts  of  the  police,  that  our  city  is 
substantially  rid,  at  last,  of  this  chronic  nuisance.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  like  unity  will  characterize  the  action  of  the  press 
on  all  kindred  issues,  which  contemplate  the  securing  for  our 
population  a  quiet,  orderly  Sunday,  and  the  abatement  of  fla- 
grant nuisances  and  evils  offensive  to  all  right-minded  citizens, 
and  dangerous  to  public  morals. 

The  aid  rendered  from  the  outset  by  the  editorial  and  other 
columns  of  a  weekly  journal  having  a  circulation  among  the 
masses  of  more  than  300,000  copies,  has  been  exceedingly 
timely  and  valuable  :  the  more  valuable  that  its  sound  princi- 
ples on  this  question  are  enforced  by  the  consistent  example  of 
the  enterprising  proprietor  of  the  Ledger,  who  uniformly  arrests 
the  motion  of  his  busy  presses,  after  twenty-three  liours  of 
work  each  laboring  day,  that  they  and  their  attendants  may 
have  their  Sabbath,  and  the  whole  of  it. 

The  Committee  derive  the  greatest  encouragement  as  to  the 
future  from  the  facts  thus  gratefully  placed  on  record  as  to  the 
attitude  of  the  press  on  a  vital  question  of  social  morals.  In 
other  countries,  and  even  in  Great  Britain,  perhaps  the  pre- 
ponderance of  influence  of  the  newspaper  press  is  indifferent, 
if  not  hostile  to  the  Sabbath.  On  the  continent  of  Europe 
hardly  a  single  journal  would  employ  its  columns  for  the  dis- 


FIEST  ANNUAL  EEPORT.  11 

cussion  of  the  subject.  May  we  not  argue  from  the  contrast 
not  only  a  more  healthful  moral  tone  among  the  conductors  of 
our  public  journals,  but  a  greater  prevalence  of  the  religious 
element  among  the  myriad  readers  of  our  periodicals,  and  a 
rising  conviction  in  the  minds  of  both  editors  and  readers  that 
the  conservation  of  the  Lord's  Day  is  vital  to  every  civil,  social, 
and  sacred  interest  of  a  free  Republic  ? 

IiABOKS   AMONG   IMMIGBANTS. 

Besides  the  beginnings  of  effort  among  the  "Welsh  popula- 
tion, previously  noticed,  valuable  articles  have  been  translated 
into  the  German  language  and  published  in  the  Aiiierikam- 
sehe?'  Botschafter — the  most  widely-circulated  German  journal 
in  this  country.  But  the  Committee  knew  of  no  direct  chan- 
nel of  access  to  the  German  masses,  which  most  need  infor- 
mation as  to  the  views  commonly  cherished  in  this  land  on 
the  Sabbath  question.  They  therefore  deemed  it  expedient  to 
employ  a  missionary,  who  might  communicate  information  as 
to  the  views  popularly  entertained  among  his  immigrant  coun- 
trymen on  this  subject,  and  by  conversation  and  the  distribution 
of  suitable  publications,  promote  a  more  just  appreciation  of 
the  claims  and  blessings  of  the  sacred  day. 

At  the  end  of  June,  such  a  laborer  entered  on  his  mission — 
one  who  had  the  advantage  of  more  than  fifteen  years'  expe- 
rience in  kindred  efforts.  After  due  inquiry  and  consultation 
with  competent  advisers,  Gossner's  work,  "  The  LorcVs  Day  the 
King  of  Days,''^  was  selected  as  the  most  appropriate  treatise 
for  distribution  at  the  present  time,  both  on  the  score  of  its 
intrinsic  merits,  and  as  being  the  production  of  an  eminent 
German  author.  On  application  of  the  Committee,  the  Ame- 
rican Tract  Society  generously  printed  and  made  a  grant  of 
four  thousand  copies  of  this  book,  which  have  all  been  distri- 
buted gratuitously,  family  by  family,  accompanied  with  oral 
instructions  and  faithful  exhortations  by  the  missionary  of  the 
Committee.  His  monthly  Reports  have  furnished  ample  de- 
monstration of  the  utility  and  necessity  of  such  labors,  and 
have  made  the  Committee  acquainted  with  the  extent  and 
forms  of  Sabbath  desecration  among  this  important  class  of  our 
population.  It  would  seem  to  be  the  dictate  of  wisdom  and 
charity  to  inform  the  population  coming  from  other  lands  of 
the  time-honored  laws  and  usages  of  this  country  as  to  the 
observance  of  the  Lord's  Day — differing  so  vitally  from  their 
own ;  and,  until  this  is  done,  we  need  to  exercise  the  utmost 
forbearance  towards  their  errors  and  prejudices,  often  ignor- 
antly  cherished.  But,  when  there  is  a  wanton  invasion  of  the 
known  rights  of  our  citizens,  and  a  systematic  corruption  of 


12  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

popular  morals  among  themselves,  and  involving  our  own 
children  and  youth — as  in  the  so-called  "  sacred  concerts," 
which  are  but  Sunday  theatricals,  accompanied  by  drinking, 
gambling,  and  all  forms  of  vice — no  claims  of  hospitality,  or 
liberty,  or  right,  can  palliate  the  outrage.  We  can  not  aiford 
to  have  our  institutions  Germanized  in  this  way,  lest  the  pro- 
cess shall  necessitate  despotism  in  Government,  and  a  standing 
army  for  police.  If  our  institutions,  as  they  are,  do  not  afford 
sufficient  liberty  for  those  who  have  fled  to  their  shelter,  let 
them  seek  others :  they  may  not  scuttle  the  ship  that  saves 
them,  nor  burn  the  house  that  opens  its  doors  to  them,  nor 
strike  down  the  sun  that  shines  upon  them.  This  they  would 
do,  were  they  to  obliterate  the  Sabbath,  without  which  free 
institutions  no  where  exist,  and  can  no  where  be  perpetuated. 

THE    SABBATH   IN   EUROPE. 

The  Fourth  Document  of  the  Committee  is  entitled  :  "The 
Sabbath  in  Europe:  the  holy  day  of  Freedom — the  holiday  ot 
Despotism."  It  presents  a  brief  view  of  the  present  state  of 
the  Sabbath  question  in  Scotland,  England,  France,  Switzer- 
land, Germany,  and  Italy,  from  investigations  entered  upon  by 
the  Secretary  of  the  Committee  when  revisiting  Europe  during 
the  past  summer.  Its  exposures  of  the  influence  of  a  holiday 
Sabbath,  as  at  once  a  leading  cause  of  physical,  political,  and 
moral  degradation  to  the  masses  of  the  people ;  as  the  ally  of 
despotism  ;  as  a  fruitful  source  of  immorality,  and  as  fatal  to 
the  growth  and  prevalence  of  evangelical  religion,  were  deemed 
to  be  timely,  inasmuch  as  tendencies  are  rife  in  this  country 
toward  a  Continental  mode  of  spending  the  Sabbath.  Two 
editions  have  been  printed. 

THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR    TRAFFIC. 

I^ear  the  end  of  the  year,  various  providences  compelled  the 
attention  of  the  Committee  to  the  monster  evil  of  our  city — the 
unrestricted  traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors  on  the  Sabbath.  As 
the  investigation  of  this  subject  advanced,  it  was  found  that  it 
involved  political  and  moneyed  interests  of  vast  power,  and  that 
the  attempt  to  arrest  this  illegal  and  demoralizing  business, 
would  require  a  measure  of  patient  toil  hardly  within  the 
power  of  the  Committee  to  bestow.  But  it  was  manifest  that, 
so  long  as  thousands  of  centers  of  dissipation,  lawlessness,  and 
crime  were  actively  counterworking  all  plans  for  the  moral 
improvement  of  the  city,  little  real  progress  could  be  hoped 
for  in  this  or  any  other  department  of  Christian  effort.  Rely- 
ing on  God,  and  on  the  united  cooperation  of  the  supporters  of 


FIEST  ANNUAL  REPORT.  13 

law   and  morals,  it  was   determined  to  move  forward  with 
deliberation  in  this  herculean  undertaking. 

Document  No.  V.,  on  The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  has  just 
been  issued,  discussing  the  extent  and  accessories  of  that  traflBc 
and  its  illegality,  and  showing  that  it  is  wasteful  of  money  and 
health  ;  that  it  engenders  pauperism  ;  causes  crime  ;  promotes 
lawlessness,  and  tends  to  irreligion,  and  suggesting  suitable 
remedies.  The  official  statement  that  there  are  7779  dram- 
shops in  this  city,  of  which  7707  are  unlicensed,  and  5186  of 
which,  kept  mostly  by  aliens,  are  open  on  the  Sabbath ;  and 
that,  at  the  lowest  estimate,  not  less  than  $1,348,000  are  ex- 
pended annually  by  the  poor  and  industrial  classes  for  Sunday 
tippling,  can  not  but  arrest  attention  to  one  of  the  gravest  evils 
of  the  metropolis.  The  corresponding  statement  in  this  docu- 
ment, that  the  arrests  for  crime  on  seventy-six  successive  Sun- 
days exceed,  by  more  than  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  cases, 
the  arrests  on  a  similar  number  of  Tuesdays  / — showing  that 
the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  is  directly  respansible  for  twenty-five 
per  cent  increase  to  the  enormous  average  amount  of  crime, — 
and  kindred  facts  gathered  with  great  care, — give  to  this  docu- 
ment more  than  ephemeral  interest.  Its  general  circulation 
and  perusal  will  carry  the  conviction  that  the  Sabbath  question 
has  wide  relations  to  vital  interests.  It  is  hoped  that  the  farther 
measures  of  the  Committee  will  be  of  a  character  to  command 
the  confidence  and  cooperation  of  the  community,  and  the 
respect  at  least  of  even  the  agents  and  victims  of  an  illegal 
and  destructive  traffic. 

FINANCES. 

The  necessary  expenditures  in  the  prosecution  of  this  enter- 
prise have  been  sustained  hitherto  by  the  contributions  of  a 
few  friends  of  the  Sabbath  and  of  the  individual  members  of 
the  Committee,  the  audited  report  of  the  Treasurer  having 
been  placed  in  the  hand  of  each  donor.  It  is  believed  that 
private  liberality  will  supply  adequate  funds  for  the  support 
of  an  expanding  movement,  without  a  resort  to  public  appeals, 
or  the  employment  of  collecting  agencies.  Thus  conducted, 
The  Cause  alone  will  occupy  public  attention,  unprejudiced 
by  associations  with  pecuniary  matters  ;  and  free-will  offerings 
of  personal  influence — more  valuable  than  money — may  be 
made  to  the  extent  prompted  by  patriotism  and  piety.  Should 
the  readers  of  this  document  desire  to  share  in  the  cost  of  sus- 
taining the  Sabbath  enterprise — far  from  being  inconsidera- 
ble— the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Committee,  and  the 
address  of  its  Treasurer,  may  be  found  appended. 


14  FIEST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 


CONÜLUSION. 

The  Committee  have  not  deemed  it  necessary  to  put  forth 
any  formal  exposition  of  their  views  of  the  Sabbath,  or  of  their 
plans  for  its  sanctification.  The  object  of  their  organization 
was  eminently  practical,  and  their  labors  and  docnments  have 
taken  this  direction,  leaving  scholastic  questions  to  the  schools. 
It  may  suit  the  purposes  of  infidelity  and  of  a  lax  Christianity 
to  traverse  anew  the  field  of  argument  (already  covered  with 
the  evidences  of  defeat,)  as  to  the  "  proleptical"  character  of 
the  Mosaic  record  of  the  original  institution  of  tlie  Sabbath  ; 
the  "  moral"  or  the  "  positive,"  or  the  "  moral  positive"  cha- 
racter of  the  fourth  Commandment ;  the  place  the  Decalogue 
holds  under  the  new  dispensation  ;  the  Saviour's  treatment  of 
the  Sabbath ;  the  authority  for  the  change  of  day  from  the 
seventh  to  the  first  day  of  the  week ;  the  views  of  the  Fathers 
and  the  Reformers ;  or  as  to  the  constitutionality  of  Sunday 
laws,  etc.,  etc.  That  there  may  be  room  for  cavil  or  debate  on 
many  of  these  and  kindred  topics,  need  not  be  denied.  But 
every  candid  student  of  the  open  books  of  nature,  history,  and 
revelation  knows  that  the  law  of  the  Sabbath  is  written  as  with 
the  point  of  a  diamond  on  the  constitution  of  man,  in  the  Word 
of  God,  and  in  the  records  of  the  race  ;  that  it  is  girt  about  by 
innumerable  promises,  threatenings,  prophecies,  and  provi- 
dences of  perpetual  significance  ;  that  it  was  stripped  of  what- 
ever was  local,  ceremonial,  and  traditional,  not  to  lessen,  but 
to  exalt  its  authority  under  a  new  and  more  spiritual  dispensa- 
tion as  the  fitting  memorial  of  redeeming  as  well  as  of  crea- 
tive love  ;  that  Christendom  accepts  and  approves  the  Lord^s 
Bay  with  unanimity  almost  as  complete  as  its  acceptance  of 
the  Bible  ;  that  good  men  three,  or  five  times  three,  centuries 
ago  were  fallible  as  now ;  and  that  statutes  enacted  at  the 
foundation  of  our  government,  and  existing  in  every  free  coun- 
try of  the  globe,  are  likely  to  survive  their  violators. 

But  as  practical  men,  conducting  a  practical  enterprise — 
while  standing  immovably  on  the  basis  of  the  divine  institu- 
tion and  perpetual  obligation  of  the  Sabbath — the  Committee 
have  chiefly  to  do  with  the  palpable  and  flagrant  profanations 
of  the  day,  whicli  invade  the  rights  of  citizens,  grieve  the  hearts 
of  Christians,  and  threaten  the  destruction  of  the  institution 
itself  When  our  laboring  population  cease  to  be  robbed  of 
the  earnings  which  their  families  need  by  the  Sunday  dram- 
shop and  lager-bier  saloons ;  when  our  children  and  servants 
are  saved  from  the  temptation  of  Sunday  theatres  and  "sacred 
concerts ;"  when  the  pauperism,  rowdyism,  and  crime  tracea- 
ble to  the  Sunday  liquor  trafiic,  are  checked  ;  when  our  homes, 


FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT.  15 

and  Sabbatli-schools,  and  churches  are  freed  from  the  nuisance 
of  Sunday  bands  and  Sunday  cries  of  whatever  sort ;  when  our 
population  are  persuaded  that  there  is  more  appropriate  em- 
ployment for  the  Lord's  Day  than  the  reading  of  immoral  tales 
and  infidel  articles  in  newspaper  journals  ;  when  the  tide  of 
dissipation,  lawlessness,  and  unbelief,  rolling  in  with  the  tide 
of  Sabbath-breaking  emigration,  is  turned  back,  we  shall  have 
a  moral  atmosphere  more  favorable  to  the  discussion  of  theo- 
retical questions  affecting  the  nature  and  mode  of  Sabbath 
observance. 

Meanwhile,  we  would  leave  to  the  individual  conscience, 
enlightened  by  the  word  and  Spirit  of  God,  the  many  delicate 
and  difficult  questions  relating  to  the  holy  keeping  of  the 
Lord's  Day.  The  fundamental  point  being  settled,  that  the 
whole  of  it  is  to  be  employed  in  other  than  secular  pursuits — ■ 
as  a  rest-day  for  body  and  soul — as  a  day  of  grateful  memories 
and  hallowed  associations — as  a  stated  period  of  devotion  and 
charity — freed  alike  from  gloomy  austerities  and  worldly  follies 
— then  all  the  details  of  individual  and  domestic  life  will  find 
an  easy  adjustment  to  its  essential  requirements.  Should  there 
be  a  leaning  to  the  side  of  strictness^  in  cases  of  doubt  and 
difficulty,  the  too  common  tendency  toward  an  opposite  lean- 
ing will  furnish  an  adequate  warrant,  if  any  were  needed. 

With  the  same  view,  the  Committee  have  felt  constrained, 
on  the  one  hand,  to  leave  uncorrected  the  misrepresentations 
and  personalities  resorted  to  by  the  enemies  of  the  Sabbath  ; 
and  on  the  other,  to  decline  cooperation  in  many  specific  re- 
forms urged  on  their  attention  by  its  zealous  friends,  as  un- 
timely and  inexpedient.  A  corrected  public  sentiment  will 
initiate  and  sustain  all  needed  reforms  ;  while  every  attempted 
improvement,  in  advance  of  public  opinion,  will  only  fail  of  its 
object,  and  in  its  failure  afford  new  pretexts  for  wrong-doing. 

The  grand,  paramount  object  of  the  Committee  will  have 
been  accomplished,  when  a  healthful,  manly,  Christian  regard 
for  the  Lord's  Day  shall  have  attained  its  legitimate  hold  of 
the  public  mind.  All  else  will  find  its  corrective  here.  Laws 
will  take  their  impress  from  an  enlightened  popular  will,  and 
their  administrators  will  then  enforce  them  with  fidelity. 
Practices  at  variance  with  sound  morals  and  good  neighbor- 
hood, will  be  abandoned.  Eights,  equally  precious  and 
inalienable,  now  invaded  with  impunity,  will  then  be  respected. 
Religion,  having  recovered  its  day  of  worship  and  instruction, 
may  pursue  its  conquests,  and  diffuse  its  blessings.  The  soul 
may  then  have  its  allotted  season  for  shaking  off  the  dust  of 
material  interests,  and  mount  and  sing  in  its  heavenward  aspi- 
rations. Eternity,  and  its  overwhelming  realities,  may  then 
occupy  its  just  place  in  the  thoughts,  when  the  sacred  day 


16  FIRST  ANNUAL  REPORT. 

brings  men  to  pause  amid  earthly  cares,  and  reminds  them  of 
"  the  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God." 

In  accomplishing  this  object,  the  Committee  would  not 
multiply  specitic  issues ;  but  when  made  with  deliberate  wis- 
dom, they  would  maintain  them  with  manly  and  unyielding 
firmness.  They  would  especially  avoid  a  frequent  resort 
to  legal  intervention.  Certain  public  evils  and  nuisances, 
indeed,  can  only  be  abated  by  the  magistracy ;  these  the 
public  voice  will  require  to  be  suppressed.  Beyond  these, 
we  would  rely  solely,  under  God,  on  appeals  to  reason  and 
conscience.  We  would  erect  a  barrier  as  high  as  Sinai 
against  the  rapacity  of  individual  or  corporate  greed,  that 
would  rob  the  laboring  man  of  his  rest,  or  strip  him  of  his 
earnings.  We  would  surround  the  homes  of  the  people  with 
a  moral  atmosphere  so  pure  and  genial,  that  the  fetid  air  of 
the  places  of  Sunday  resort  shall  stifle  and  repel.  We  would 
leaven  society  with  respect  and  love  for  sacred  Sabbath  hours 
and  their  accompanying  blessings,  as  a  corrective  for  the  spirit 
of  irreverence  and  lawlessness  ;  as  a  necessary  counterpoise  to 
selfishness  and  sin  ;  as  the  basis  of  characteristics  essential  to 
self-government ;  and  as  the  indispensable  condition  and  safe- 
guard of  free  institutions.  We  would  inspire  the  Christian 
community  with  a  more  profound  sense  of  the  value  of  holy 
time  as  the  appointed  period  for  devout  meditation,  and  pri- 
vate, domestic,  and  public  worship ;  as  the  appropriate  season 
for  acts  of  benevolence ;  and  as  "  the  day  the  Lord  hath  made," 
in  which  to  "rejoice  and  be  glad"  in  Him.  And  we  would 
arouse  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  to  a  manly  and  determined 
resistance  of  the  tendencies  to  its  desecration,  and  to  a  united 
efibrt  for  its  general  and  sacred  observance. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER, 
E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.D., 
WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH, 
ROBERT  CARTER, 
WARREN  CARTER, 
THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS, 
E.  L.  FANCHER, 
FRED.  G.  FOSTER, 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Becording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer. 

1^^  SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW-YORK. 


NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 

HORACE  HOLDEN, 
WM.  A.  SMITH, 
WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 

E.  C.  WILCOX; 

F.  S.  WINSTON, 
0.  E.  WOOD. 


MEMORIAL  MEMOPtANDA. 


»'  « • »  <« 


L  Memorial  as  to  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 
IL  Basis  of  Memorial— Presentment  of  Grand 
Juries. 

in.  Laws  and  Ordinances  respecting  the 
Traffic. 

IV.  Comments  of  the  Daily  Press  on  the  Me- 
morial. 

Y.  The  Germans  and  the  Memorial. 

VI.  Pubhc  Drinking  Fountains. 


DOCUMENT  NO.  VII. 

OF 

THE  NEW  YORK  SABBATH  COMMITTEE. 


NEW  YORK  : 

PRINTED  BY  EDWARD   0.  JENKINS, 

No.  z6  Frankfort  Street. 
1859. 


SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 


I.-Memorial  as  to  the  Sunday  Liquor 

Traffic. 

To  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Metropolitan  Police : 

Gentlemen: — Section  5  of  tlie  Metropolitan  Police  Act  pro- 
vides, that  "  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Police  hereby 
constituted,  at  all  times  of  the  day  and  night  ....  to  preserve 
the  public  peace ;  to  prevent  crime,  and  arrest  offenders ;  to  pro- 
tect the  rights  of  persons  and  property;  to  guard  the  public 
health ;  ....  to  see  that  all  laws  relating  to  the  observance  of 
Sunday,  and  regarding  ....  gambling  and  intemperance  .... 
are  properly  enforced ;  and  to  obey  and  enforce  all  ordinances  of 
Common  Councils,"  &c. 

Your  memorialists  appeal  to  the  accompanying  extracts  from 
the  Presentments  of  four  several  Grand  Juries — made  under  the 
sanctions  of  an  oath  by  citizens  of  the  highest  respectability — and 
to  the  records  of  your  own  department,  for  proof  that  the  Sunday 
Liquor  Business  disturbs  "the  public  peace;"  causes  "crime;"  in- 
vades "the  rights  of  persons  and  property;"  wastes  "the  public 
health;"  defies  "the  laws  relating  to  the  observance  of  Sunday;" 
shelters  and  encourages  "gambling;"  and  creates  "intemperance;" 
and  all  this,  and  more,  in  open  contempt  of  the  Laws  of  the  State, 
and  of  the  Ordinances  of  the  Common  Council,  which  your  Board 
are  pledged  "  to  obey  and  enforce." 

The  burdens  of  taxation  for  Courts,  Police,  Prisons,  and  Aims- 
House  purposes,  have  come  to  be  so  onerous  as  to  compel  the  atten- 
tion of  tax-payers  to  their  causes ;  and  your  memorialists  find  that 
the  principal  parasite  on  the  industry  and  wealth  of  the  city  exists 
in  the  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  unlicensed  dram-shops,  more 
than  five  thousand  of  which  pursue  their  otherwise  illegal  business 


4  THE  SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

on  the  Christian  Sabbath.  Now,  were  the  evil  merely  negative, 
as  in  the  withholding  from  the  Treasury  of  half  a  million  dollars  a 
year  due  for  Licenses ;  or  in  the  failure  to  collect  the  fines  imposed 
by  law,-— amounting  at  the  lowest  computation  to  a  million  dollars 
for  the  misdemeanors  committed  each  Sunday  of  the  year — it 
might  be  endured.  But,  when  this  traffic  throws  a  large  majority 
of  the  pauper  army — some  40,000  strong — on  the  support  of  honest 
capital  and  industry  [see  extract  from  Presentment,  February, 
1859] — itself  contributing  to  multiply,  but  almost  nothing  to  sup- 
port its  recruits ;  when  it  crowds  our  Criminal  Courts,  monopolizes 
the  business  of  our  Grand  Juries,  and  throngs  our  prisons  with 
its  thousands  of  pupils  or  graduates  in  vice  and  crime ;  and  when 
it  enervates  labor,  impoverishes  and  demoralizes  families,  engen- 
ders juvenile  rowdyism  and  general  lawlessness,  weakens  the  moral 
restraints  and  invades  the  sanctities  of  the  Lord's  Day,  and  coun- 
teracts the  benign  influence  of  philanthropy  and  religion,  your 
memorialists  cannot  refrain  from  invoking,  as  in  their  own  behalf 
and  in  behalf  of  their  fellow-citizens  they  do  respectfully  but 
earnestly  demand,  PROTECTioisr  and  relief. 

The  statistics  of  your  Board  demonstrate  a  connection  so  inti- 
mate between  Sunday  tippling  and  crime,  as,  on  that  ground  alone, 
to  require  the  attention  and  action  of  your  Department.  It  appears 
that  while  the  arrests  for  the  Tuesdays  of  eighteen  months  preced- 
ing December  8,  1858,  amounted  to  but  7,816,  the  arrests  for  the 
corresponding  Sundays  were  9,713, — an  absolute  excess  of  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two  above  the  ordinary  average 
of  week  days ;  or  an  increase  of  drunkenness  and  crime  on  Sun- 
days of  twenty-five  per  cent,  over  the  usual  enormous  projDortion  of 
wickedness  traceable  on  all  days  to  dram-drinking. 

Even  more  convincing  is  the  testimony  of  your  last  Annual  Ee- 
port,  in  which  you  give  the  arrests  on  three  successive  Sundays, 
"  while  the  law  Avas  observed,"  amounting  to  254,  compared  with 
those  of  the  same  number  of  Sundays,  "  Avhen  the  liquor-dealers 
learned  they  could  violate  the  law  with  impunity,"  which  amounted 
to  503,  to  "  show  conclusively  the  effects  of  closing  the  liquor-shops 
in  lessening  the  amount  of  crime  and  of  "breaches  of  the  peace." 
Thus,  on  the  evidence  of  this  official  paper,  the  partial  and  tem- 
porary execution  of  the  laws  restraining  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic 
prevented  one-half  of  "  the  crime  and  of  breaches  of  the  peace" 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  5 

otherwise  to  have  been  looked  for,  and  actually  committed  when 
legal  restraints  were  removed.  What  then  might  be  hoped  from 
the  complete  and  permanent  suppression  of  that  trafl&c?  And 
with  such  demonstration  of  the  connection  of  cause  and  effect, 
would  not  your  Department  be  warranted  under  the  common  law, 
as  well  as  by  the  provisions  of  your  organic  Act,  which  makes  it 
your  "  daUj  to  PREVENT  crime  and  arrest  offenders,"  in  employing 
the  whole  force  under  your  control  in  suppressing  this  parent  evil, 
rather  than  in  the  hopeless  pursuit  of  its  offspring,  whose  "  nam© 
is  Legion  ?  "  Or,  to  use  the  language  of  a  recent  Grand  Jury, 
have  you  not  authority  to  extirpate  "  the  roots  of  this  tree  of  evil, 
so  that  it  shall  neither  yield  bud,  leaf,  flower,  nor  fruit,  instead  of 
using  ineffectual  efforts  to  crush  the  fruit  after  it  has  ripened  ?  " 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  would  not  "  an  ounce  of  prevention  be  better 
than  a  pound  of  cure  ?  " 

But  your  Department  is  not  left  to  the  necessity  of  resorting  to 
its  general  police  authority  for  the  power  to  abate  the  evil  of 
which  we  complain.  While  existing  laws  may  be  susceptible  of 
improvement,  they  are  numerous  and  stringent  enough,  properly 
enforced,  to  secure  the  desired  end.  Besides  the  Metropolitan 
Police  Act,  under  which  26,000  complaints  have  already  been 
made  by  your  prompting — some  of  which  may  yet  be  prosecuted 
to  conviction — the  7,702  unlicensed  venders,  or  either  of  them, 
may  be  arrested  under  the  statute  of  1857  for  the  misdemeanor  of 
selling  on  Sunday  as  on  any  other  day  ;  while  licensed  dealers  come 
under  the  Sunday  provisions  of  that  statute.  Then,  the  Corpora- 
tion Ordinance  of  1855  prohibits  all  Sunday  liquor  sales  as  misde- 
meanors, punishable  by  fine  or  imprisonment,  and  complaints  may 
be  made  before  any  magistrate.  Surely  there  is  law  enough,  and 
we  believe  public  sentiment,  so  long  outraged,  will  sustain  the 
enforcement  of  it ;  and  will  demand  the  cooperation  of  the  magis- 
tracy, which  may  be  expected  to  be  cordially  rendered,  in  freeing 
the  city  from  one  principal  cause  of  excessive  taxation,  pauperism 
and  crime. 

But  inasmuch  as  there  may  be  among  the  thousands  of  dram- 
shop and  beer-house  keepers — especially  among  the  foreigners, 
who  embrace  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Sunday  dealers — some  who 
are  still  ignorant  of  the  unlawful  nature  of  their  business,  your  me- 
morialists would  suggest  the  expediency  of  printing  and  circulating 


6 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 


in  every  dram-shop  tlie  laws  and  ordinances  affecting  the  Sunday 
liquor  traffic :  accompanied  hy  a  distinct  7iotice  that,  from  and  after 
a  fixed  date,  the  whole  power  of  the  Police  Department  will  be  per- 
sistently employed  in  securing  obedience  to  their  provisions^  and  in 
restoring  the  ascendancy  of  law  and  order. 

In  the  judgment  of  your  memorialists,  a  course  like  this  is  due 
to  the  dignity  and  authority  of  your  own  Department ;  to  the  com- 
munity whose  lives  and  property  are  entrusted  to  your  guardian- 
ship ;  to  that  portion  of  the  foreign  immigrant  population  who  lack 
respect  for  the  laws  and  institutions  which  give  them  shelter ;  to 
the  victims  of  poverty  and  crime  whose  moral  natures  need  to  be 
nerved  by  sacred  Sabbath  influences  against  the  temptations  of 
the  week ;  to  the  families  whose  daily  bread  is  taken  from  their 
mouths  to  become  money  for  the  Sunday  publican,  and  poison  for 
husbands  and  fathers ;  to  Christian  citizens  whose  quiet  is  invaded 
and  whose  moral  sense  is  shocked  by  the  orgies  of  the  Sunday 
dram-shop  and  theatrical  saloon ;  and  to  morality  and  religion, 
which  can  no  more  coexist  with  a  profaned  and  dissipated  Sabbath 
than  can  our  free  institutions, — here  and  everywhere  depending  for 
their  prosperity  and  perpetuity  on  the  popular  recognition  of  the 
principles  of  the  Decalogue  and  the  lessons  of  the  New  Testament. 

It  only  remains  for  your  memorialists  severally,  and  in  behalf  of 
all  good  citizens,  to  assure  your  Board  of  their  cordial  and  un- 
wavering support  of  whatever  wise  and  efficient  measures  may  be 
adopted  for  the  suppression  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Business. 


P.  Perit 
Benj.  L.  Swan 
Thomas  H.  Faile 
C.  E.  Eobert,  Jr. 
Wm.  Whitlock,  Jr. 
Wm.  L.  Jenkins 
R.  T.  Woodward 
Eobt.  C.  Goodhue 
John  Slade 
A.  B.  Neilson 
Stewart  Brown 
James  Brown 
James  M.  Brown 
Fred,  De  Peyster 
Eoswell  Sprague 
Wm.  H.  Macy 


L.  Lorut 
Oliver  Slate,  Jr. 
I.  V.  Onativia 
Drake  Mills 
P.  E.  Pyne 
Simon  De  Vissa 
E.  Ponvert 
G.  W.  Gray 
J.  Whitehead 
P.  y.  Hoffman 
Benj.  H.  Field 
John  Alstyne 
A.  M.  Tredwell 
Theodore  Dehon 
Edward  Penfold 
James  Thomson 


John  Hone 
James  S.  Aspinwall 
J.  P.  Giraud  Foster 
Wnn.  H.  Aspinwall 
Sam'l  W.  Comstock 
Peter  V.  King 
N.  W.  Chater 
Henry  Chauncey 
Fred.  G.  Foster 
H.y  Chauncey,  Jr. 
B.  W.  Weston 
Horace  Gray,  Jr. 
A.  Foster 
Geo.  Griswold 
Geo.  Griswold,  Jr. 
Corn's  Grinnell 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOE   TEAFFIC. 


Chas.  H.  Marshall 
Clias.  Larason 
L.  B.  Wyman 
David  Ogden 
Mortimer  L.  Fowler 
Geo.  T.  Elliot 
Arch'd  Russell 
John  J.  Morris 
Jacob  Story 
Henrj  Kelly 
Oliver  H.  Lee 
Nath'l  Carrier 
Horace  Holden 
R.  B.  Minturn 
J.  P.  Fellows,  Jr. 
Geo,  D.  Phelps 
Norman  White 
R.  M.  Hartley 

F.  Bronson 
Wm.  H.  Smith 
D.  H.  Arnold 
Jacob  Brouwer 
Thos.  H.  Chambers 
R.  H.  McCurdy 

J.  P.  Cronkhite 
Thos.  W.  Clerke 
Wilson  G.  Hunt 
Lucius  Hopkins 

G.  T.  Cobb 
George  Opdyke 
L.  B.  Woodruff 
Edw'ds  Pierrepont 
Joseph  Hoxie 
Thos.  L.  Chester 
H.  M.  Forrester 

J.  B.  Nelson,  M.  D. 
James  Graydon 
John  M.  Bruce,  Jr. 
Roe  Lockwood 
Wra.  G.  Lambert 
James  Low 
Geo.  Carpenter 
Daniel  Lord 
W.  R.  Vermilye 
W.  M.  Yermiiye 
Jasper  Corning 
W.  S.  Bishop 


John  J.  Cisco 
Thomas  Denny 
Wm.  H.  Neilson 
R.  J.  Thorne 

A.  R.  Walsh 
Aug's  Belknap 
Edward  Prime 
Wm.  Curtis  Noyes 
Lora  Nash 

John  A.  Ubsdell 
John  H.  Redfield 
Moses  A,  Hoppock 
John  C.  Tucker 
Horace  Webster 
Daniel  Parish 
H'yG.  Marquand 
Jacob  Le  Roy 
Winth'p  S.  Oilman 
Josiah  Lane 
James  D.  Oliver 
Chas.  P.  Kirkland 
Wm.  A.  Booth 
Bernard  Logan 
S.  H.  Thayer 
W.  S.  Clark 
James  H.  Towle 
James  E.  Weir 

B.  H.  Stryker 
A.  C.  Stryker 
Henry  Fisher 
Caleb  T.  Rowe 
Geo.  Andrews 
Wm.  B.  Bodge 
Wm.  H.  Beebe 
E.  L  Blake 

R.  N.  Havens 
P.  Edw'd  Vermilye 
A,  Merwin 
J.  W.  Brinckerhoff 
John  L.  Smith 
Jos.  W.  Patterson 
Seth  G.  Babcock 
W.  F.  Van  Wagenen 
Peter  Richards 
James  L.  Todd 
James  W.  Newton 
Chas.  B.  Converse 


James  Lenox 

G.  B.  Crane 

H.  P.  Howell 

Thomas  Kehoe 

Warren  Carter 

W.  E.  Sibell 

Zebedee  Ring 

Peter  Balen 

Homer  Morgan 

John  G.  Nelson 

H.  T.  Dwight 

L.  P.  Stone 

Jas  Humphrey 

E.  White 

Chas.  B.  Hatch 

Samuel  Hotaling 

R.  C.  McCormick 

E.  L.  Beadle 

J.  K.  Johnson 

0.  E.  Wood 

Harmon  Kingsbury 

Robert  Carter 

S.  H.  St.  John 

Wm.  Alex.  Smith 

Sam'l  S.  Sands 

John  Ward 

John  Warren 

Jas.  W.  Underbill 

J.  H.  Gourlie 

T.  W.  Thorne 

M.  Tompkins,  Jr. 

H.  T.  Morgan 

John  Miller 

Frederic  Bull 

H,  Meigs,  Jr. 

Sam'l  Coulter 

Joseph  T.  Sanger 

L.  C.  Clark 

J.  B.  Trevor,  Jr. 

James  B.  Colgate 

R.  L.  Cutting 

Geo.  T.  Hope 

Wm.  H.  Le  Roy 

Le  Grand  Lockwood 

Thos.  Morgan 

J.  M.  Doe 

Gus.  P.  A.  Sabine,  M.  D. 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 


Matthew  Maury 
Rutson  Maury 
John  D.  Clate 
William  M.  Dart 
James  Dart 
Norman  Dart 
W.  P.  Comstock 
W.  B.  Griswold 
F.  Thompson 
Miles  J.  Jenkins 
Elbridge  T.  Gerry 
William  Tracy 
John  M.  Barbour 
Fred.  S.  Tallmadge 
Eastburn  Benjamin 
David  W.  Price 
J.  Campion 
Ed.  D.  Barnes 
John  J.  Johnston 
John  S.  Neston 
William  Nixon 
George  T.  Jackson 
Eobt.  B.  Roosevelt 
Theo.  Roosevelt 
Isaac  Hicks 
J.  A.  Roosevelt 
J.  T.  Dean 
H.  L.  Pierson 
Sam'l  Hopkins 
Hy.  L.  Pierson,  Jr. 
James  B,  Taylor 

D.  L.  Winchester 
Leonard  Warner 
Henry  B.  Hyde 
Robert  Bliss 
Wm.  R.  Moore 
Wm.  Hall 
George  Dixon 
John  S.  Seal 

E.  H.  Garbutt 
Wm.  H.  Black 
Sam'l  E.  W.  Barry 
W.  Hart  Smith 
Charles  Gould 
Joseph  H.  Choate 
Wm.  H.  C.  Barnes 

F.  B.  Betts 


M.  Van  Schaick 
Sam'l  A.  Church 
Edmund  C.  Fisher 
F.  P.  Woodcock 
Frederick  F.  Betts 
W.  C.  Williams 
A.  G.  Ranney 
George  G.  Spencer 
Danford  Knowlton 
Ezra  Wheeler 
John  Thompson 
D.  V.  H.  Bertholf 
V.  L.  Buxton 
R.  H.  Barnes 
J.  Jay  Greenough 
Duncan  McMartin 
Wm.  A.  Arnold 
James  Buell 
John  H.  Ormsbee 
Simon  V.  Vedder 
Ira  Bliss 
A.  Decker 
W.  W.  Phillips 
J.  X.  McLanahan 
A.  B.  Belknap 
Thos.  C.  Chalmers 
Thos.  S.  Shepard 
Edwin  Hyde 
N.  Sullivan 
P.  F.  Randolph 
Wm.  A.  Budd 
Thos.  Slocomb 
Aug.  W.  Sexton 
M.  G.  Baldwin 
Courtlandt  Palmer 
Chas.  Tracy 
Walter  Edwards 
Jno.  E.  Parsons 
Leonard  Perkins 
Jas.  M.  Halsted 
John  A.  Stewart 
F.  W.  Downer 
W.  H.  Munn 

A.  T.  Anderson 
Z.  Stiles  Ely 

C.  B.  Corlies 

B.  M.  Crawford 


Peter  Cooper 
S.  A.  Mower 
Tredwell  Ketcham 
Francis  L.  Johnson 
R.  E.  Edwards 
B.  H.  Bixby 
David  Wetmore 
Henry  Day 
Geo.  DeForest  Lord 
Samuel  R.  Mabbatt 
W.  Decker 
Wm.  H.  Payne 
Thos.  Cutwater 
Allwan  H.  Vassar 
J.  H.  Williams 
Jas,  K.  Place 
Chas.  Place 
Jas.  D.  Sparkman 

E.  B.  Place 

S.  F.  Goomridge 
Jno.  T.  Walker 
Hugh  N.  Camp 
J.  O.  Fowler 
Wm.  H.  Kniffin 
R.  H.  Nodine 
V.  LeComte 
Philip  Teets 
Halsted  &  Gilman 

F.  L.  Hewitt 

G.  M.  Tracy 

H.  A.  Bostwick 
John  Ruston 
R.  H.  Lievesley 
AVilliam  Young 
Sam'l  T.  Skidmore 
Henry  S.  Oakley 
Jas.  C.  Harriott 
John  G.  Haviland 
Richard  Oaklej'- 
E.  H.  Champlin,  M.  D. 
E.  M.  Kingsley 
Elias  Loomis 
Francis  Bacon 
0.  R.  Kingsbury 
M.D.  C.Crawford 
J.  P.  Newman 
D.  Terry 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TEÄFFIC. 


E.  L.  Fancher 
Wm.  Truslow 
Zachary  Peck 
Gr.  Mauiere  Tracy 
Andrew  J,  Odell 
Thos.  McFarlan 

D.  T.  Staniford 
Samuel  Bangs 
Wm.  A.  Budd 
K  J.  Baker 
Alfred  S.  Purdy 
W.  Keeler 
Jno.  McCliutock 
John  W.  Grajdon 
W.  R  Martin 
Ealph  Mead 
AVm.  A.  Cox 
Joseph  Graydon 
A.  E.  Wetmore 
Noah  Worrall 

S.  Throckmorton 
Dan'l  L,  Ross 
A.  M.  Osborn 
T.  A.  Howe 
Thos.  Otis  Le  Roy 

E.  A.  Le  Roy,  Jr. 
Edw'd  A.  Le  Roy 
Irad  Hawley 
John  H.  Swift 

G.  W.  Burnham 
Chas.  H.  Booth 
W.  Clapp 
E.  R.  Dibblee 
Rüssel   Dart 
Lewis  B.  Henry 
Effingham  Cock 
Chas.  Tuttle 
Jas.  H.  Patten 
Jas.  A.  Edgar 
Jas.  P.  Pennell 
Wm.  Van  Allen 
J.  H.  Woolley 
E.  M.  Denman 
Daniel  Hofiman 
Henry  A.  Lee 
Robert  J.  White 
Francis  Hall 


Wm.  F.  Havemeyer 
James  L.  Phelps 
Walter  C.  Palmer 
J.  B.  Oakley 
James  Farrelly 
James  S.  Huggins 
R.  R.  Ward 
W.  Edwards 
Philetus  H.  Holt 
Benjamin  Loder 
James  B.  Wilson 
Asher  Taylor 
G.  De  Forest 
John  A.  Weeks 
Francis  R,  Rives 
Edwin  O.  Carnes 
Cyrus  W.  Field 
Daniel  Conger 
Jos.  W.  Alsop 
John  J.  Owen 
Joseph  H.  Gray 
Edward  J,  Owen 
E.  H.  Owen 
Sam'l  Carlile 
G.  Waters 
Jos.  Greenleaf 
G.  W.  Thorp 
J.  M.  McLean 
James  C.  Bogert 

C.  R.  Robert 
Joseph  Stuart 
Wm.  Forrest 
Wm.  E.  Dodge 

D.  Willis  James 
Wm.  E.  Dodge,  Jr. 
I.  Seymour 
William  Scott 
Mason  Thomson 
Carlisle  Norwood 
C.  A.  Davison 
Chas.  E.  Strong 
H.  B.  Washburn 
Henry  C.  Porter 
John  Post 

R.  B.  Conkliu 
Sam'l  Smith 
Wakeman  Burritt 


Wm.  Tucker 

Le  Barron  Hammond 

A.  G.  Nichols 
S.  R.  Smith 
Jas.  E.  Smith, 
H.  C.  S.  Jervis 
F.  W.  Jolly 
Alfred  Simonson 
Reuben  Pine 
Gilbert  F.  Henshaw 

D.  H.  Sargent 
C.  H.  Hawkins 
Isaac  Anderson 
Moses  Baldwin 
Alexander  Miller 
C.  P.  Woodworth 
Wm.  Barker 

T.  D.  Thompson 

B.  Cauley 
Henry  G.  Miller 
John  A.  Dahn 
Jacob  Yisel 

J.  B.  Arthur 
Edwin  H.  Wade 
Edmund  Young 
Vilroy  Wilcox 
John  Dawson 
J.  B.  Beers 
James  Furey 
Benj.  F.  White 
John  Anthony 
S.  E.  Reid 
John  Torkey 
Chas.  N.  Daily 
William  Betts 
A.  W.  Bradford 
Sheppard  Homans 
AVm.  K.  Strong 
Richard  Patrick 
John  Wadsworth 

F.  S.  Winston 
Robt.  Taylor 

G.  W.  Ford 
J.  A.  Cauder 

E.  D.  Nelson 
Sam'l  M.  Janes 
James  Webb 


10 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 


Moses  Taylor 
J.  E,  lioaglancl 
Freeman  Bloodgood 
Thomas  Lewis 
Chas.  Roberts 
R.  Murray,  Jr. 
W.  0.  R.  Arnold 
Alex.  M.  Ross 
Henry  J.  Howland 
Robert  I.  Lomas 
J.  F.  Van  Wickel 
James  McAllister 
A.  H.  Wemple 
G-.  W.  Smith 
Sam'l  Squire 
William  Penney 
O.  Twist  Hopper 
William  Carpenter 
Sidney  Smith 
David  B.  Dwire 
W.  M.  Washburn 
W.  Cunningham 
J.  B.  McDonnell 
A.  C.  Hall 
Wm.  J,  Durr 
Thos.  R.  Ackland 
Wm.  R.  Guest 
Geo.  W.  Frost 
Henry  Knowlton 
J.  M.  Naughton 
E.  H.  Richards 
Wm.  Mook 
James  S.  Egbert 
Fred.  Clinch 
Chas.  H.  Dietz 
William  Lalor 
Archibald  Bishop 
Janies  Reid 
James  M.  Taylor 
Thos.  G.  Barren 
Wm.  L.  Skidmore 
Brastus  Goodwin 
Joseph  Center 
Francis  A.  Curtis 
E.  Norcross 
O.  F.  A.  Brockway 
M.  Perry 


Caleb  0.  Halsted 
Joseph  Flynn 
C.  Wm.  Cregier 
John  E.  Quin 
Wm.  W.  Bennet 
M.  T.  Condon 
W.  W.  Knapp 
S.  R.  Packer 
Thos.  B.  Carpenter 
Samuel  J.  Knapp 
Daniel  R.  Young 
Daniel  S.  Hoff 
J.  L.  Snedecor 
Elbert  Austin 
Walter  Reid 
Wm.  A.  Baldwin 
Abel  Gruber 
Robert  G.  Cornell 
William  H.  Taylor 
John  H.  Moore 
Alfred  Smith 
Dan  Van  Nostrand 
W.  L.  Allen  &  Co. 
W.  K.  Moore 
George  Smart 
Samuel  Crooks 
Thomas  P.  Way 
C.  Bruno 
Seth  W.  Hale 
A.  Carter,  Jr., 
Chas.  E.  Hale 
Augustus  K.  Sloan 
M.  H.  Gallaher 
David  Dodd 
H.  W.  Wheeler 
J.  M.  Morrison 
Wm.  H.  Hoople 
Jas.  F.  De  Peyster 
Wm.  Muir 
Chas.  W.  Sawyer 
H.  M.  Lamport 
John  W.  Baker 
John  M.  Vandcrlip 
Geo.  H.  Christian 
Cyrus  Peck 
J:  F.  Stoddard 
James  Anderson 


T.  C.  Doremus 
John  K.  Myers 
Edwin  Hoyt 
James  Warren 
Silas  Brown 
Geo.  S.  Stephenson 
A.  R.  Lawrence 
L  N.  Post 

0.  D.  F.  Grant 
Robert  Forrest 
Howard  Potter 
John  Crosby  Brown 
Clarence  S.  Brown 
Abbott  Brown 
John  E.  Johnson 
Wm.  S.  Doughty 
James  Stuart  Gillan 

1.  H.  Woods 
James  S.  Woods 
Alex.  W.  Murray 
David  S.  Dodd 
John  Sandaver 
William  E.  Ilebberd 
J.  S.  Holt 

Wm.  Waters 
Robert  C.  Martin 
Stephen  Smith 
H.  K.  White 
John  W.  Sterling 
W^illiam  Rockwell 
Francis  Lei  and 
A.  Masterton 

D.  Fairbank 

E.  Lawrence 
I.  Park,  Jr. 
L.  H,  Holmes 
T.  Van  Brunt 
R.  Ross,  Jr. 
Edmund  Hyalt 
J.  W.  R.  Ludlow 
Edward  McVickar 
J.  A.  iMcVickar,  M.D 
S.  B.  Barlow,  M.  D. 

E.  M.  Kellogg,  M.  D. 

F.  P.  Smith 

W.  D.  Hutchings 
Wm.  Douglas 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  11 


II —Basis  of  Memorial— Presentment  of 
G-rand  Juries. 

The  Grand  Jury  of  February,  1858,  WILSON  G.  HUNT,  Fore- 
7nan,  present : 

"  That  a  serious  and  growing  evil  is  tbe  disregard,  by  certain  classes  of  the  public, 
of  tbe  laws  designed  to  preserve  the  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  *  *  In 
some  of  tbe  most  populous  sections  of  the  city,  on  the  afternoons  and  evenings  of  tbe 
Sabbath,  theatrical  exhibitions,  secular  concerts,  bowling  and  pistol  galleries,  jug- 
gling shows,  dancing-houses,  bands  of  music,  tippling-saloons,  and  all  species  of 
lawless  entertainments  are  maintained,  in  open  violation  of  law,  and  in  disregard  of 
public  autborities.  To  these  lawless  places  are  attracted  vast  numbers  of  unguarded 
youth  and  demoralized  maturity  of  both  sexes,  and  dissipation,  quarrelling,  and 
frequent  violence  are  among  the  consequences.  Independent  of  tbe  annoyance  and 
offence  which  these  disturbances  create  to  the  law-observing  and  Christian  portion 
of  the  commimity,  the  fact  that  tbe  laws  may  thus  be  openly  violated,  and  tbe  con- 
stituted autborities  fail  to  secure  their  due  observance,  can  not  but  produce  the  most 
pernicious  effect  upon  the  illdisposed,  who  participate  in  these  lawless  gatherings,  as 
well  as  those  who  are  encouraged  in  their  evil  course  by  the  inefBcient  administra- 
tion of  the  law.  We  would  recommend  that  the  laws  for  tbe  suppression  of  these 
exhibitions  be  rigidly  enforced,  and  that  it  be  made  the  special  duty  of  the  Police 
to  suppress  them  by  the  undeviating  execution  of  the  law.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  these  unlawful  gatherings  are  among  the  fruiful  causes  of  engendering  in  the 
corrupted  youth  of  our  city  the  fearful  tendencies  to  crime  which  are  daily  manifested 
in  our  criminal  courts." 

The  Grand  Jury  of  October,  1858,  L.  R.  MORRIS,  Foreman,  say: 

"  The  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  by  persons  frequenting  the  numerous  drinking, 
dancing,  and  singing  saloons,  scattered  broadcast  over  tbe  cit)',  is  a  subject  of  con- 
stant complaint,  and  calls  for  prompt  and  efficient  action  on  the  part  of  the  authori- 
ties for  its  suppression.  The  Grand  Jury  is  in  possession  of  facts  showing  that  about 
twenty  thousand  complaints  for  the  violation  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  have  been 
reported  by  the  police,  not  one  of  which  has  been  prosecuted.  It  is  tbe  opinion  of 
the  Grand  Jury  that  every  law  respecting  tbe  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  should  be 
rigidly  enforced,  at  least  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  prevent  an  interference  with  the 
peace  of  those  who  prefer  to  devote  the  day  to  higher  and  loftier  purposes." 

The  Grand  Jury  of  Jan.  21,  1859,  THEO.  MARTINE,  Foreman, 
say : 

"  The  Grand  Jury  cannot  close  their  labors  without  presenting  to  the  Court  and 
to  the  putilic  the  important  fact,  that  a  very  large  portion  of  the  business  which  has 
occupied  its  attention  has  arisen  from  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicating  liquors. 

"  A'eaj-ZT/ flZZ  t/ie  cö.?ffi /or  7n«r(7er  and  assault  and  battery  which  have  been  investi- 
gated— and  the  number  has  been  great — have  been  found  to  spring  from  these  causes;  and 
the  grand  inquest  can  see  no  reason  to  expect  any  diminution  of  crimes  so  long  as 
tbe  present  almost  entire  absence  or  inefficiency  of  the  laws  for  the  suppression  of 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  continues. 

"The  Grand  Jury  is  well  aware  that  this  subject  has  often  been  presented  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Court,  and  suggests  no  remedy.  This  it  leaves  to  the  wisdom  of 
our  Legislature.  But  so  long  as  the  evil  exists  to  the  alarming  degree  that  it  does 
at  present,  so  long  will  it  demand  the  denunciation  of  all  good  citizens,  and  their 
best  eiforts  to  abate  it. 


12  THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

"  It  is  well  known  that  the  number  of  places  for  the  sale  of  such  liquors  j^  s 
greatly  multiplied  within  the  last  few  years;  a-nd  this  mm/ accottnt  in  the  same  mens  re 
for  the  great  increase  of  the  amount  of  crime,  pauperism  and  taxation  of  our  city,  and  the 
increased  business  of  our  criminal  courts." 

The  Grand  Jury  of  February,  1859,  CHARLES  AUGUSTUS 
DAVIS,  Foreinan^  make  this  impressive  presentment : 

"  The  pauper  circle  of  this  city  and  county  now  reach  the  alarming  number  of 
nearly  forty  thousand ;  this  number  is  divided  into  two  classes,  indoor  and  outdoor 
poor.  The  indoor,  about  one  quarter  of  the  whole,  or  over  eight  thousand  persons, 
and  the  outdoor  the  balance,  or  say  over  thirty  thousand.  Thus  about  forty  thousand 
paupers  (or  pensioners  upon  public  bounty,)  are  assigned  to  the  care  of  the  Govern- 
ors of  the  Alms-house  department,  (and  kindred  charities,)  at  a  cost  to  the  tax-payers 
of  a  sum  nearly  the  entire  tax  levy  of  only  twenty  years  ago.  These  are  facts  of  a 
very  alarming  character,  especially  so  when  we  find,  in  the  face  of  all  this  benevo- 
lence the  evil  is  rapidly  on  the  increase,  and  gives  unmistakable  evidence  that  just 
as  far  as  public  charity  inclines  to  go,  just  so  far  will  pauperism  follow  it  up,  if  not 
overrun  it.  Large  and  beautiful  as  our  public  charities  now  are,  our  private  chari- 
ties fall  little  short  of  it.  ~'  '■'  '-' 

"  In  the  inveistigation  of  cases  in  a  long  catalogue  of  crime  presented  to  us  at  the 
beginning  of  the  present  term,  we  find,  with  very  few  exceptions,  the  crimes  charged 
have  their  origiii  in  resorts  and  dens  of  iniquity,  where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  and  drank  ; 
and  bad  as  the  best  of  them  may  be,  the  lowest  and  worst  are  kept  by  foreigners, 
or  people  of  foreign  origin,  and  all  this  in  defiance  of  existing  laws. 

"If  it  wei'e  practicable  to  transfer  all  such  cases  to  another  tribunal,  the  duties 
of  the  Grand  Jury  could  have  ended  in  as  many  hours  as  it  has  required  days  to  finish  or 
diminish  the  calendar.  It  is  fearful,  to  the  tax-payer,  at  least,  to  see  how  much  he 
is  called  to  contribute  of  his  industry  to  pay  the  Cost  of  Courts,  Police  and  Prisons, 
besides  the  Alms-house,  which  eventually  becomes  the  recipient  of  the  victims,  if  they 
escape  the  prison  or  the  gallows." 

[Note. — The  previous  statements  as  to  the  extent  of  pauperism  were  based  on 
the  Alms-house  Report  of  '57.  That  for  '58,  just  issued,  shows  the  increase  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  out-door  poor  within  the  year.  The  superintendent  says :  "  From  the 
accompanying  statement  and  statistics  for  the  year  ending  December  31,  1858,  it 
will  appear  that  7,625  adults  and  12.527  children  have  been  relieved  by  donations 
in  money,  and  37,834  adults  and  52,836  children  with  fuel,  shouing  an  increase  of 
37,011  persons  relieved,  and  an  increase  of  expenditure  o/"  $29,826  78  over  the  preceding 
year, ' '  ] 

Extract  from  RECORDER  BARNARD'S  Charge,  Dec.  10,  1858. 

"  Under  the  Liquor  Law,  20,000  or  more  civil  complaints  had  lieen  filed,  but  there 
had  been  no  indictments  under  the  law,  in  consequence  of  the  differences  of  opinion 
of  various  judges  as  to  its  constitutionality.  But  this  question  had  recently  been  settled 
in  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  favor  of  its  constitutionality,  and  if  any  cases  of  its  violation 
were  brought  before  ihem,  it  would  be  their  duty  to  find  indictments,  and  help  to 
check  that  monstrous  evil,  the  indiscriminate  sale  of  spirits  by  day  and  night,  in 
all  parts  of  the  city.  The  Liquor  Law  also  provided  penalties  for  the  adulteration  of 
liquors,  and  it  tcouid  he  safe  to  say  that  at  least  nine  tenths  of  the  liquors  sold  in  iV«/»  York 
were  adulterated  with  the  most  deleterious poisom." 

ALMS-HOUSE  STATISTICS   OF   RUM  AND  CRIME. 

City  Prison. 

J.  C.  Whitmore,  Acting  Warden  of  the  City  Prison,  presents  the  following  inter- 
esting table  among  others: 

Nativity.  Malos.      Fom.ilcs.  Total. 

Number  received  who  were  Natives,     ....        5,983        2,785        8,768 
"  "  Foreigners,       .         .         .         15,ll4      11,290      26,404 


Total, 21,097       14,075      35,172 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  13 

Thus,  of  the  35,172  persons  arrested  for  crime  and  disorder  in  1858,  26,404  were 
foreigners,  and  thirty  thomand  two  hundred  were  "intemperate,"  as  follows: 

HABITS   or  LIFE. 

Number  received  who  were  temperate,        .         .        .         3,521        1,451        4,971 
"  "  "         intemperate,    .         .        .         17,576      12,624      30,200 


Total,   ......         21,097      14,075      35,172 

Blackwell's  Island  Hospital. 

The  habits  of  patients  admitted  during  1858  are  in  the  following  proportions  : 
Temperate,  15  1-10  per  cent.  ;  moderate  drinkers,  23  4-10  per  cent.;  intemperate, 
39  8-10  percent.;  habitual  drunkards,  21  6-10  per  cent.  ;  unascertained,  1-10  per 
cent. ;  total,  100.  Eighty-five  of  every  one  hundred  persons  confess  the  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks  in  a  greater  or  less  degree.  Sixty-one  in  every  one  hundred  admit  thai  they  are  intem- 
perate drinkers  or  habitual  drunkards. 


Ill— Laws  and  Ordinances  affecting  the 
Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 

1.  Laws  'proliihiiing  all  trajffic.,  gaming  and  theatrical  exhibitions. 

§  58.  [Sec.  64.]  No  person  shall  wilfully  disturb,  interrupt,  or  disquiet  any  as- 
semblage of  people  met  for  religious  worship,  by  profane  discourse,  by  rude  and  in- 
decent behavior,  or  by  making  a  noise,  either  within  the  place  of  worship,  or  so 
near  it  as  to  disturb  the  order  and  solemnity  of  the  meeting  ;*  nor  shall  any  person 
within  two  miles  of  the  place  where  any  religious  society  shall  be  actually  assem- 
bled for  religious  worship,  expose  to  sale  or  gift  any  ardent  or  distilled  liquors,  or 
keep  open  any  huckster-shop  in  any  other  place,  inn.  store  or  grocery,  than  such  as 
have  been  duly  licensed,  and  in  which  such  person  shall  have  usually  resided  or 
carried  on  business  ;  nor  shall  any  person,  within  the  distance  aforesaid,  exhibit 
any  shows  or  plays,  unless  the  same  shall  have  been  duly  licensed  by  the  proper 
authority  ;-|-  nor  .shall  any  person,  within  the  distance  aforesaid,  promote,  aid,  or 
be  engaged  in  any  racing  of  any  animals,  or  in  any  gaming  of  any  description. f 

§  59.  [Sec.  65.]  Whoever  shall  violate  either  of  the  provisions  of  the  foregping 
section  may  be  convicted  summarily  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county, 
or  any  mayor,  recorder,  alderman,  or  other  magistrate  of  any  city  where  the  of- 
fense shall  be  committed  ;  and  on  such  conviction,  shall  forfeit  a  sum  not  exceeding 
twenty-five  dollars,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the  county. 

[In  default  of  payment  of  fine  and  costs,  by  Sec.  68,  imprisonment  not  exceeding 
3D  days  is  required.] 

§  66.   [Sec.  70.]     Prohibits  "  gaming,  frequenting  of  tippling-houses,  or  any  law- 

*  Uuder  this,  the  cries  of  newsboys  become  unlawful. 

t  This  part  of  the  section  may  apply  lo  lager  bier  theatricals. 

X  This  prohibition  is  applicable  to  the  cut-of-town  racing  sometimes  complained  of. 


14  THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

ful  exercises  or  pastimes,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  called  Sunday,"  and  pre- 
scribes a  small  fine  for  each  offense. 

§  67.  [Sec.  71.]  No  person  shall  expose  to  sale  any  wares,  merchandise,  fruit, 
herbs,  goods,  or  chattels,  on  Sunday,  except  meats,  milk,  and  fish,  which  may  be 
sold  at  any  time  before  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morning  ;  and  the  articles  so  ex- 
posed for  sale  shall  be  forfeited  to  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  may  be  seized  by  virtue 
of  a  warrant  for  that  purpose,  which  any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county,  or 
mayor,  recorder,  or  alderman  of  the  city,  is  hereby  authorized  to  issue,  upon  a  con- 
viction of  the  offender.  When  seized,  they  shall  be  sold,  on  one  day's  notice  being 
given,  and  the  proceeds  shall  be  paid  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  town  or 
city. 

2.  Laws  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquors  without  license. 

The  Laws  of  1857,  chapter  628,  §  13,  provide : 

"  Whoever  shall  sell  any  strong  or  spirituous  liquors  or  wines  in  quantities  less 
than  five  gallons  at  a  time,  uithoui  having  a  license  therefor,  granted  as  herein  provided, 
shall  forfeit  fifty  dollars  for  each  offence. 

"  §  14.  Whoever  shall  sell  any  strong  or  spirituous  liquors  or  wines  to  be  drank 
in  house  or  shop,"  &c.,  "  without  having  obiaineda  license  therefor  as  an  inn,  tavern,  or 
hotel-keeper,  shall  forfeit  fifty  dollars  for  each  offence." 

"  §  16.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  sheriff,  under  sheriff",  deputy  sheriff,  consta- 
ble, marshal,  policeman,  or  officer  of  police,  to  arreM  all  persons  found  actually 
engaged  in  the  commission  of  any  offence  in  violation  of  this  act,  and  forthwith  to 
carry  such  person  before  any  magistrate  of  the  same  city  or  town,  to  be  dealt  with 
according  to  the  provisions  of  this  act ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  magistrate" 

"  to  require  a  bond  ....      in  the  penal  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  .  .  . 

or  to  commit  euch  offender  to  the  county  jail,"  &c.  "And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  magistrate  to  entertain  any  complaint  of  a  violation  of  this  act,  made  by  any 
person  under  oath,  and  forthwith  to  issue  a  warrant,"  &c. 

[These  provisions  cover  Sunday  as  well  as  week  days,  and  they  affect  the  5,000 
Sunday  liquor-shops,  none  of  ivhich  are  licensed.] 

3.    Law  of  1857,  [Chapter  628]  prohibiting  Sunday  sales  by  licensed 

dealers. 

§  21.  No  inn,  tavern,  or  hotel-keeper,  or  person  licensed  to  sell  liquors,  shall  sell  or 
give  away  any  intoxicating  liquors  or  wines  on  Sunday,  or  upon  any  day  on  which  a 
general  or  special  election  or  town-meeting  shall  be  held,  and  within  one  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  place  where  such  general  or  special  election  or  town-meeting  shall 
be  held  in  any  of  the  cities,  villages,  or  towns  of  this  state,  to  any  person  what- 
ever, as  a  beverage.  In  case  the  election  or  town-meeting  shall  not  be  general 
throughout  the  state,  the  provisions  of  this  section  in  such  case  shall  only  apply  to 
the  city,  county,  village,  or  towns  in  which  such  election  or  town-meeting  shall  be 
held.  Whoever  shall  offend  against  the  provisions  of  this  section,  shall  be  guilty 
of  a  misdemeanor,  and  on  conviction  shall  be  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail,  work- 
house, or  penitentiary,  not  more  than  twenty  days. 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  15 

4.  The  Metropolitan  Police  Act  provides:  [Laws  of  ^57,  chapter  SQ^.] 

§  21.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  to  publicly  keep  or  dispose  of  any  intoxicat- 
ing liquors  upon  the  first  day  of  the  tceek,  called  Swiday,  or  upon  any  day  of  public  elec- 
tion within  the  said  Metropolitan  Police  district,  under  a  penalty  of  fifty  dollars  for 
each  offense,  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered  in  the  name  of  the  People  of  the  State  of 
New  York  by  the  district  attorney  of  the  county  wherein  the  offense  is  committed, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Police  Contingent  Fund,  hereby  authorized ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Board  of  Police  to  strictly  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  section,  by  its  proper  orders 
in  respect  thereto. 

5.  The  City  Ordinance  of  1855  enacts : 

§  1.  If  any  person  in  the  city  of  New  York  shall  sell  by  retail  or  deliver  in  pur- 
suance of  any  such  sale,  any  wine,  ale,  lager  bier,  or  other  strong  or  spirituous 
liquor,  or  shall  consent  to  allow,  or  permit  any  wine,  ale,  lager  bier,  or  other  strong 
or  spirituous  liquor  by  him  or  her  so  sold  or  delivered,  to  be  drank  in  his  or  her 
house,  outhouse,  garden,  or  other  premises  whatsoever,  without  being  licensed  ac- 
cording to  law, — or,  being  so  licensed,  shall  sell  or  deliver,  or  consent  to  allow  or 
permit  any  wine,  ale,  lager  bier,  or  other  strong  or  spirituous  liquor  sold  or 
delivered  as  aforesaid,  to  be  drank  as  aforesaid  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  called 
Sunday,  excepting  to  boarders  and  lodgers  or  actual  travelers  within  the  provisions 
of  the  law,  he  or  she  shall,  for  every  such  offense,  be  liable  to  the  pains  and  penal- 
ties hereinafter  mentioned. 

§§  2-4.  Provide  that  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  any  magistrate  to  issue  a  warrant  "up- 
on complaint  of  the  violation  of  any  part  of  the  first  section,"  and  on  proof  or  con- 
fession, "to  convict  the  offender  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  for  each  and  every  such 
conviction  shall  fine  him  or  her  in  a  sum  not  to  exceed  ten  dollars,  and  in  default 
of  payment"  may  be  committed  for  "a  period  not  exceeding  one  day  for  each 
dollar  of  fine  so  imposed,"  all  moneys  thus  received  to  be  paid  to  the  Almshouse 
department  "  toward  the  support  of  the  poor  of  said  city.'' 

Every  Sunday  sale  of  liquor,  then,  is  a  violation  of  at  least  four  lares : — those  against  all 
traffic ;  that  against  unlicensed  liquor-selling ;  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act  of  1857,  and 
the  city  Ordinance  of  1855. 


16  THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TEAFFIC. 

IV,— Comments  of  the  Daily  Press. 

PRESENTATION  OF  MEMORIAL. 

From  The  Times,  3fay  28. 

Sunday  Liquor  Selling  and  the  Police  Commissioners. — A  double  delegation  of 
citizens,  American  and  German,  waitec!  on  the  Police  Couiraissioners  yesterday 
afternoon,  to  present  memorials  on  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.  Messrs.  Pelatiah 
Perit,  James  Brown,  C.  0.  Halstcd,  Norman  White,  Koswell  Sprague,  A.  B.  Neilson, 
James  W.  Beekman,  and  other  well-known  gentlemen,  with  Messrs.  Moller  and  other 
Germans,  composed  the  delegation. 

Mr.  Perit,  in  presenting  the  memorial,  briefly  stated  its  objects,  and  expressed  the 
hope  that,  so  far  as  they  came  within  the  scope  of  the  Department,  they  would  be 
carried  out. 

Mr.  Bowen  thought  the  responsibility  for  the  existing  state  of  things  was  largely 
with  the  magistracy  and  the  prosecuting  officers.  Numerous  complaints  had  already 
been  made  which  had  not  been  prosecuted.  He  was  uot  certain  as  to  the  power  of 
the  police  to  arrest  offenders  against  the  Sunday  Liquor  Laws. 

Mr.  White  said  the  evils  of  the  traffic  under  consideration  were  so  obvious,  and 
affected  so  deeply  the  moral  condition  of  the  city,  that  the  press  and  the  public 
would  demand,  or  they  had  a  right  to  demand,  the  execution  of  the  laws.  Surely 
the  magistrates  would  not  obstruct  their  enforcement,  with  overwhelming  proofs 
that,  while  they  were  left  in  neglect,  all  law  was  comparatively  powerless.  He  di- 
rected the  attention  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  city  ordinance  of  1855,  which 
makes  every  Sunday  sale  of  liquor  a  misdemeanor  ;  to  the  Excise  Law  of  1857, 
which  provides  a  penalty  of  $50  for  each  offence,  either  of  selling  on  any  day  with- 
out a  license,  or  of  selling  on  Sunday  if  licensed,  and  makes  it  the  duty  of  every 
policeman  to  arred  offenders  ;  to  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act,  which  affixes  a  fine  of 
$50  to  every  Sunday  sale,  and  reiiuires  the  Police  Board  to  execute  the  laws  pro- 
tecting the  Sabbath,  and  to  the  Statute  prohibiting  ail  traffic  on  that  day,  under  a 
penalty  of  confiscation  of  the  goods  exposed  for  sale,  whether  liquors  or  dry  goods. 

When  distinguished  strangers  visit  our  city,  we  are  proud  to  exhibit  our  humane 
and  reformatory  institutions,  and  point  to  the  ample  provisions  of  our  Almshouse, 
and  kindred  establishments,  as  proofs  of  benevolent  forethought.  Would  it  not  be 
a  prouder  monument  could  we,  by  abating  the  causes  of  pauperism,  and  the  temp- 
tations to  crime,  show  that  Almshouse  accommodations  and  municipal  jails  were 
comparatively  needless  ?  The  memorialists  are  the  more  encouraged  to  seek  pro- 
tection and  relief  from  the  evils  of  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic,  on  account  of  the  readi- 
ness heretofore  manifested  by  this  Department  to  comply  with  all  reasonable  re- 
quests of  citizens  to  suppress  crime  and  abate  public  nuisances. 

There  is  little  room  to  doubt  what  the  actiou  of  the  Commissioners  will  be  when 
the  committee  to  wliom  the  memorial  was  referred  present  their  report.  The  case 
is  as  clear  as  the  alternative  between  anarchy  and  order.  No  law  has  power  and 
no  executive  department  is  entitled  to  respect,  so  long  as  a  class  interest  defies  both, 
anddepradatss  without  restraint  on  the  property  and  moral  interests  of  the  city. 

From  The  Courier  and  Enquirer,  3Iay  31. 

The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  in  New  York. — We  are  glad  that  so  strong  and 
earnest  a  movement  has  been  made  to  stimulate  the  Metropolitan  Police  Commis- 
sioners to  enforce  the  laws  against  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.  Undoubtedly  that 
Board  have  found  some  discouragement  in  the  culpable  remissness  of  the  prosecuting 
attorney  and  the  magistracy,  to  prosecute  and  convict  some  of  the  offenders  who 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  17 

Bave  been  arrested  ;  but  we  fancy  they  will  hardly  themselves  pretend  that  tbey 
have  fully  and  faithfully  performed  the  duties  imposed  upon  them,  in  the  premises, 
bj  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act.  Should  the  Board  once  show  themselves  resolutely 
determined  to  carry  out  their  powers  to  the  uttermost  in  this  public  service,  and 
not  allow  themselves  to  be  diverted  from  the  path  of  duty  by  oläicial  delinquency 
elsawhere,  they  would  soon  draw  a  force  of  public  sentiment  to  their  side  that  would 
peiemptorily  impose  action  upon  the  other  branches  of  public  administration.  What 
is  most  of  all  needed  is  an  unflinching,  untiring,  thorough  exercise  by  some  one  of 
the  Departments  of  the  public  service,  of  every  meaus  and  appliance  alforded  by  the 
law.  Let  this  determination  once  be  put  beyond  question,  and  the  other  public 
agents,  whose  cooperation  may  be  necessary,  whatever  their  disposition,  will  find 
it  impossible,  for  any  length  of  time,  either  to  thwart  or  hold  back.  Especially 
will  this  prove  true  when  an  authority,  provided  with  such  powers  and  resources  as 
the  Police  Board,  assumes  such  a  stand. 

There  is  not  an  honest,  intelligent  policeman  in  this  city  who  is  not  ready  to 
declare  that  the  Sunday  Liquor  trafßc  is  an  unmitigated  curse.  It  occasions  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  as  much  drunkenness  as  upon  all  the  other  da3^s  of  the  week  combined, 
and  to  tens  of  thousands  it  makes  what  ought  to  be  a  day  of  rest  a  saturnalia,  pro- 
ductive of  misery,  vice  and  crime.  It  bears  with  special  injury  upon  the  poorer 
classes,  for  it  exposes  them  to  peculiar  temptation  on  their  only  day  of  leisure, 
fleeces  from  multitudes  of  them  their  hard  earnings,  destroys  their  physical  consti- 
tution, their  character,  and  their  self-respect,  and  sends  hundreds  annually  to  the 
prison  and  the  alms-house.  The  police  records  of  every  city  where  the  Sunday 
Liquor  TraflBc  is  allowed  are  sure  to  show  a  very  much  larger  number  of  commit- 
ments on  that  day  than  on  any  other  in  the  week.  The  suppre.'^sion  of  this  traffic 
within  the  last  few  years  in  many  of  the  English  cities  has  had  an  immense  effect  in 
reducing  the  number  of  crimes  and  misdemeanors.  There  cannot  be  the  slightest 
doubt  that  the  experiment  would  result  with  equal  advantage  in  this  city  were  it 
once  faithfully  tried. 

Those  men  whose  souls  are  absorbed  in  a  single  idea,  will,  we  suppose,  look  with 
little  favor  upon  this  movement.  If  subterranean  rum-hells  are  to  be  allowed  to 
pour  forth  their  drugged  and  poisonous  fire  for  six  days  in  a  wt-ek,  they  will  see  but 
little  gain  in  closing  up  the  sluices  upon  the  seventh.  Many  zealous  friends  of 
temperance,  we  have  little  doubt,  will  regard  time  spent  in  lopping  ofl' the  branches 
of  the  Upas  tree  of  Intemperance  as  worse  than  useless.  It  must  be  rooted  up  and 
annihilated.  Nothing  less  will  satisfy  them,  and  unless  they  can  do  this  they  will 
do  nothing.  Now  this,  we  think,  is  all  wrong.  During  six  days  of  the  week  the 
mass  of  our  population  is  constantly  and  unceasingly  at  work.  The  inexorable  law 
of  necessity  impels  all  who  must  earn  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow — and 
there  are  but  few  others^-to  employ  themselves  better  during  work  days  than  in 
drinking  and  revelling.  '  But  the  seventh  is  a  day  of  rest,  and  for  twenty-four  hours 
the  iron  hand  of  labor  ceases  to  move.  The  harrassed  operative  and  the  jaded 
clerk,  the  industrious  mechanic  and  the  care-worn  merchant,  are  all  seeking  rest 
and  relaxation  to  fit  them  for  the  toil  of  the  coming  week.  And  in  what  manner  is 
this  done  ?  Many  go  to  the  temple  of  God,  and  others  to  the  green  fields  of  the 
country  ;  but  who,  that  is  familiar  with  the  streets  of  this  city  at  Sunday  midnight, 
does  not  know  that  more  are  engaged  in  such  licentious  and  drunken  revelry  as 
only  dares  to  show  itself  in  the  obscurity  of  night.  Imbecile  and  drivelling  drunken- 
ness reels  solitary  along  the  sidewalks,  muttering  to  itself  curses  and  blasphemies 
— fit  prayers  to  close  such  a  day's  worship.  Frantic  and  crazy  drunkenness  goes 
about  in  gangs,  raving  impiously,  and  defying  alike  the  laws  of  God  and  man.  It 
is  sad  but  true,  that  the  day  set  apart  fur  the  observances  of  religion  is  more  than 
all  others  appropriated  to  drunken  rioting  and  profligacy,    i 

Within  the  last  three  or  four  years  our  police  system  nag  greatly  improved  in 
efficiency,  but  there  has  been  no  corresponding  diminution  of  crime.  The  last 
Quarterly  report  of  the  Deputy  Superintendent  in  fact  showed  a  most  marked  in- 
crease. To  suppress  crime,  it  is  not  enough  to  be  vigilant  in  overtaking  it  ;  it 
must  be  barred  and  stopped  at  the  outset.  The  law  must  always,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, be  its  own  helper  ;  and  if  it  would  save  itself  from  violation,  it  must  work 
diligently  in  all  directions.  Its  office  is  nut  merely  to  punish,  but  to  prevent ;  pre- 
vention is  in  fact  its  highest  prerogative.  It  must  prevent,  by  removing  facilities 
and  temptations,  and  opening  a  clear  field  for  the  operation  of  all  moral  and 


18  THE   SUNDtlY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

spiritual  influences.  The  liquor  traffic,  at  best,  we  know,  is  fraught  with  a  vajt 
amount  of  social  mischief  ;  yet,  in  the  existing  state  of  public  opinion,  it  is  an  un- 
avoidalile  evil.  But  there  is  no  reason  in  the  world  why  it  should  be  an  unregulated 
evil.  It  may  be  restricted  and  controlled,  and  stripped  of  half  its  power  of  injury. 
Our  present  license  system  is  an  utter  sham.  Nobody  pretends  to  regard  it.  The 
vilest  wretches  can  deal  out  the  vilest  poison  without  let  or  hindrance.  This  curse 
has  been  growing  until  it  has  come  to  be  almost  beyond  endurance.  It  is  high 
time  there  should  be  some  mitigation  ;  and  the  first  great  practical  mitigation  must 
be  the  faithful  enforcement  of  the  laws  againt  selling  liquor  on  Sunday,  except  in 
such  places  as  have  accommodation  for  mau  and  beast.  This  single  reform  would 
cut  down  the  number  of  groggeries  in  this  city  a  third,  if  not  a  half,  for  most  of 
them  now  derive  their  chief  profit  from  the  Sunday  traffic.  We  most  earnestly 
trust  that  the  Police  Commissioners  will  respond  to  enlightened  public  feeling,  and 
address  themselves  with  persistent  energy  to  this  great  work.  A  clamor  may  be 
raised  by  those  who  care  for  nothing  but  their  own  sordid  interests,  but  all  that 
public  spirit  which  is  worth  caring  for  will  sustain  the  effort ;  and  its  benefits  would 
soon  make  themselves  so  apparent  as  to  silence,  even  for  very  shame,  its  worst 
enemies. 

From,  The  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  28. 

Sunday  Liquor  Trakfic. — The  Sabbath  Committee  appeared  before  the  Police 
Board  yesterday,  and  presented  a  memorial  asking  for  the  suppression  of  the  Sunday 
liquor  traffic.  Norman  White,  President  of  the  Committee,  and  Pelatiah  Perit,  ad- 
dressed the  Board  briefly  in  behalf  of  the  measure.  The  memorial  was  referred  to 
the  appropriate  committee.  It  bears  the  signatures  of  540  persons,  including  many 
of  our  most  respectable  citizens.  The  material  parts  of  it  we  subjoin,  adding  our 
earnest  hope  that  the  Police  Board  will  carry  out  the  views  of  the  memorialists,  by 
all  the  means  in  their  power.  Sunday  tippling — turning  the  Sabbath  into  a  day  of 
dissipation  and  excess — is  probably  tliemost  summary  method  ever  devised  by  man 
or  devil  to  corrupt  the  public  morals,  and  destroy  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men. 
The  safety  of  the  community  demands  that  an  evil  so  productive  of  pauperism  and 
crime,  and  consequently  of  taxation  and  misery,  shall  be  done  away. 

Froin  The  Express,  May  28. 

The  Sund.vy  Liqdor  Traffic. — We  call  especial  attention  to  the  memorial  against 
the  liquor  traffic  that  was  presented  to  the  Police  Commissioners,  on  Friday,  by  a 
delegation  of  prominent  citizens.  The  document  is  plain,  forcible,  and  unanswer- 
able in  its  statements,  and  requires  decided  action  on  the  part  of  the  Police  Board. 
The  whole  subject  of  this  miserable  traffic  has  been  under  consideration  by  the  Sab- 
bath Committee  for  six  months  or  more,  and  they  have  reason  to  believe  that  a  com- 
bined effort  of  the  press,  the  police  and  the  public,  will  result  in  the  substantial 
abatement  of  the  enormous  evil. 

There  is  no  need  of  argument  to  demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  greater  proportion 
of  crime  in  this  city  is  owing  to  the  liquor  traffic  in  one  way  and  another  ;  and  the 
comparison  of  the  number  of  arrests  on  Sundays  when  the  ordinances  were  partially 
enforced,  and  when  no  efi"ort  at  all  was  made  to  procure  an  observance  of  the  law, 
proves  that  more  than  one  half  of  the  arrests  on  the  Lord's  day  are  rendered  neces- 
sary by  the  existence  of  this  immoral  business.  The  memorial  calling  upon  the 
Police  Board, — not  to  assume  any  doulitful  powers,  but  simply  to  enforce  the  exist- 
ing laws,  which  are  amply  sufficient  for  the  purpose, — is  signed  by  over  five  hun- 
dred of  the  most  respectable  and  influential  gentlemen  in  the  community.  Mer- 
chants of  universal  reputation  for  integrity  and  wealth,  lawyers  of  renown,  physi- 
cians and  simple  gentlemen,  side  by  side,  call  upon  the  Commissioners  to  do  their 
duty.  With  all  our  heart  we  join  our  voice  to  theirs,  assured  that  if  the  Commis- 
fiiouers  only  make  an  honest,  determined  ettbrt,  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic  can  be 
put  down  with  comparatively  little  difficulty,  and  in  a  very  short  time. 

From  The  Commercial  Advertiser,  May  28. 

The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. — A  large  number  of  citizens  have  signed  a  memorial 
addressed  to  the  Commissioners  of  Police,  asking  that  the  laws  and  ordinances 


THE  SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  19 

against  the  Sunday  traffic  in  liquor  may  be  strictly  enforced.  The  memorial  was 
yesterday  presented  to  the  Board,  and  by  them  referred  to  the  committee  on  regu- 
jations.  We  hope  the  gentlemen  who  presented  the  memorial  will  see  to  it  that  it 
does  not  sleep  in  the  committee  of  the  Police  Commission.  It  is  time  that  the 
question  was  settled  whether  the  laws  and  ordinances  directed  against  this  fruitful 
source  of  demoralization  and  crime  can  or  cannot  be  enforced. 

The  memorial  now  before  the  Commissioners  of  Police  clearly  establishes  three 
things  :  First,  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  crime  of  this  city  is  directly  traceable 
to  this  Sunday  liquor  selling.  Second,  that  the  traffic  is  entirely  illegal  ;  and, 
third,  that  the  Police  Commissioners  are  by  law  responsible  for  its  suppression. 

The  first  point  is  too  notorious  to  need  proof,  but  the  memorialists  have  deemed 
it  proper  to  recapitulate  the  evidence.  This  is  found  in  the  presentments  of  various 
grand  juries,  who  uniformly  testify  that  nearly  all  the  cases  of  murder,  of  assault 
and  battery,  and  of  similar  offences,  are  to  be  traced  to  intemperance,  and  that 
such  intemperance  is  largely  promoted  by  the  open  sale  of  liquors  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  memorialists  also  adduce  statistics,  prepared  by  the  acting  warden  of  the  City 
Prison,  confirmatory  of  these  presentments.  In  truth,  the  evidence  on  this  point 
is  overwhelming. 

Legal  prohibitions  of  the  traffic,  and  of  its  corollaries,  gaming  and  theatrical 
exhibitions,  on  the  Sabbath,  are  abundant,  and  are  all-sufdcient,  notwithstanding 
some  tehnical  objections  that  have  been  made  against  them,  and  these  laws  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Police  Commissioners  to  enforce.  The  act  creating  the  Commission  is 
itself  imperative  on  this  point,  as  the  following  section  will  demonstrate : 

"  Sec.  1.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  to  publicly  keep  or  dispose  of  any 
intoxicating  liquors  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  called  Sunday,  or  upon  any  day 
of  publicelection  within  the  said  metropolitan  police  district,  under  a  penalty  of  fifty 
dollars  for  each  oö'ence,  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered  in  the  name  of  the  people  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  by  the  district  attorney  of  the  county  wherein  the  offence  is 
committed  for  the  benefit  of  the  police  contingent  fund,  hereby  authorized  :  and  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Police  to  strictly  enforce  the  provisions  of  this 
section,  by  its  proper  orders  in  respect  thereto." 

No  words  could  have  more  clearly  imposed  ihis  duty  upon  the  Commissioners  of 
Police.  Yet  with  this  direct  responsibility  reciting  upon  the  Commissioners,  what 
are  the  facts  in  .relation  to  the  Sunday  tralBic  in  liquor  ?  More  than  five  thousand 
liquor  shops  are  open  every  Sunday,  and  the  illegal  business  is  openly  carried  on  in 
them,  the  consquence  of  which  is  a  general  dmoralization  on  that  day,  utterly  at 
variance  with  good  order  and  Christian  civilization.  It  is  true  that  the  police  have 
laid  complaints  against  a  goodly  number  of  these  offenders — a  course  that  has 
proved  utterly  ineffectual  for  the  suppression  of  the  offence.  But  by  the  Statute  law 
of  18-57,  it  is  made  the  duty  of  the  police  to  arrest  such  parties,  and  this  part  of  the 
duty  the  Police  Commissioners  have  not  discharged.  Let  them  do  this,  and  they 
will  effectually  grapple  with  the  evil.  That  it  is  their  dut}'  is  plain ;  and  that  con- 
sideration should  be  sufficient.  But  they  would  be  sustained  also  by  public  senti- 
ment, for  the  community  are  weary  of  this  monstrous  evil, and  would  rejoice  to  see 
it  effectually  and  permanently  removed. 

And  with  this  must  be  coupled  the  suppression  of  another  rapidly  growing  evil, 
viz. :  Sunday  theatres  or  theatrical  exhibitions,  which  are  a  scarcely  less  prolific 
source  of  demoralization  than  Sunday  liquor  shops.  The  Police  Commissioners 
have  been  as  culpably  negligent  respecting  these  unlawful  gatherings  in  desecration 
of  the  Sabbath  as  they  have  with  respect  to  the  liquor  dealers.  There  is  no  doubt 
as  to  the  interpretation  to  be  put  upon  this  law.  These  Sunday  exhibitions  are 
notoriously  and  indisputably  illegal,  aud  should  be,  and  must  be,  suppressed,  if  the 
sacredness  of  the  Sabbath  is  to  be  a  permanent  institution  in  this  city.  But  so  far 
are  they  from  being  even  restrained,  that  their  number  is  increasing,  and  their  char- 
acter rapidly  becoming  more  vicious  and  base.  Nor  can  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic 
be  suppressed  if  these  dens  of  dissipation  are  not  also  closed,  for  the  liquor  trade  is 
combined  with  the  exhibition.  Most  earnestly  is  it  to  be  desired  that  the  Police 
Commissioners  will  act  upon  the  prayer  of  these  memorialists,  and  apply  the  force 
at  their  command  to  the  immediate  rectification  of  these  evils. 

From  The  Tribune,  Jtcne  4. 
The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. — We  are  glad  to  see  by  the  memorial  of  the  Sunday 


20  THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

Liquor  Traffic  which  we  publish  elsewhere,  that  use  and  habit  have  not  recopciled 
all  our  citizens  to  the  entire  and  total  contempt  with  which  the  laws  in  restriction 
of  the  liquor  trade  have  of  late  been  treated.  It  is  well  to  have  the  public  atten- 
tion recalled  once  more  to  the  fact — which  well  established  and  patent  as  it  is,  seems 
in  danger  of  being  forgotten — that  of  our  annual  burden  of  forty  thousand  paupers 
and  thirty  five  thousand  criminal«,  by  far  the  larger  part  are  imposed  upon  us 
through  the  agency  of  the  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  dram-shops  which  exist 
in  this  city,  almost  the  whole  of  them  in  direct  defiance  of  law. 

It  is  true  that  this  memorial  aims  directly  only  at  preventing  the  illegal  sale  of 
liquor  on  Sundays.  But  there  are  very  good  reasons  on  behalf  of  a  special  eifert, 
limited  in  tlic  first  instance  to  that  day.  In  the  first  place,  the  law  as  to  the  Sun- 
day traffic  is  more  strict,  precise,  comprehensive,  available  and  reiterated.  In  the 
second  place,  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  this  community  as  to  the  sacredness  of 
Sunday  will  come  in  aid  of  the  enforcement  of  these  laws.  la  the  third  place,  of 
all  days  in  the  week,  Sunday  is  the  day  upon  which  the  illegal  sale  of  liquor  is 
carried  to  the  greatest  extent,  and  is  attended  by  the  most  injurious  consequences. 

As  to  the  law,  it  is  not  only  abundant,  but  superabundant.  There  are  not  less 
than  four  distinct  enactments  by  which  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  is  made  an  offence 
and  is  subjected  to  penalties,  one  of  which,  among  others,  is  the  forfeiture  of  all 
the  liquors  thus  exposed  for  sale. 

As  to  the  support  which  the  enforcement  of  the  law  may  be  expected  to  derive 
from  the  prevailing  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  sacredness  of  Sunday,  there  is  this 
notable  fact:  that  of  the  seven  thou.sand  seven  hundred  unlicensed  drinking-housea 
of  this  city,  a  tiiird  part,  including  almost  all  those  kept  by  citizens,  are  closed  ou 
that  day,  though  on  other  days  of  the  week  they  do  not  scruple  to  disregard  the 
law  ;  so  that  one-third  of  the  work  is  already  done  to  our  hands,  and  that  by  the 
keepers  of  the  shops  themselves. 

On  the  otlier  days  of  tiie  week,  when  not  merely  a  great  variety  of  other  places 
of  resort  and  amusement  are  open,  but  when  the  great  mass  of  our  people  are  ab- 
sorbed in  their  labors,  the  temptation  to  excessive  drinking  held  out  by  these  shops 
is  far  less  than  on  Sunday,  which  is  a  day  of  leisure  and  relaxation.  All  reasons, 
therefore,  combine  to  urge  a  special  effort  for  the  enforcement  of  the  law  on  that 
day. 

From  The  Evening  Post,  June  4. 

Sunday  Liquor  Selling. — We  refer  our  readers  to  the  memorial  published  in 
another  column,  addressed  by  a  number  of  our  most  prominent  citizens,  request- 
ing the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  to  suppress  Sunday  liquor  selling,  and  other 
nui.-;ance3.  which  interfere  with  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  religious  worship.  There 
is  no  doubt,  in  our  opinion,  either  of  the  desirableness  of  the  measure  sought  by 
the  memorialists,  or  of  the  powers  of  the  Board  to  employ  and  enforce  them. 

From  The  \onee,  Sund.4.y]  Dispatch,  June  4. 

ß^^  The  New  York  Sabbath  Committee  have  given  up  the  chase  after  the  Sun- 
day newsboys  and  taken  up  the  case  of  the  Liquor  Dealers.  We  have  now  before 
us  No.  5  of  the  Tracts  being  issued  under  the  auspices  of  the  Committee.  It  is 
entitled  "The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,"  and  after  giving  the  extent  of  the  business, 
proceeds  to  show  the  evil  accessories  of  the  trade  and  its  lawlessness,  wastefulness, 
consequent  pauperism,  crime  and  immorality,  and  closes  by  urging  upon  the  Police 
Commissioners  and  Courts  the  necessity  of  enforcing  the  Sunday  law  against  the 
Liquor  Dealers.  The  Committee  back  this  pamplilet  by  a  powerful  appeal  to  the 
Police  Commissioners,  signed  by  about  one  thousand  of  our  leading  citizens,  pray- 
ing that  body  to  exercise  the  power  conferred  on  them  to  suppress  the  Sunday 
Liquor  Traffic.  This  is  the  most  formidable  petition  that  has  ever  been  got  up  in 
this  city  on  the  subject,  and  from  wliat  we  hear  of  the  agencies  which  procured  the 
appointment  of  Capt.  PilLsbury  as  Superintendent  of  Police,  we  are  led  to  believe 
that  the  whole  power  of  the  police  is  about  to  be  brought  to  bear  against  the  Sun- 
day Liquor  Dealers.  It  is  said  that  over  a  million  of  dollars  has  been  pledged  to 
.protect  the  officers  in  the  enforcement  of  the  law  [! !] 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  21 

From  The  Sun,  May  28. 

A  Memorial  as  to  the  Sunday  liquoi-  traffic  was  presented  yesterday  to  tbe  Police 
Commissioners,  stating:  that  there  are  7,700  unlicensed  dram  shops  in  the  city,  of 
which  more  than  5.000  do  business  on  the  Sabbath.  The  arrests  on  Tuesdays  during 
eighteen  months'  time  were  found  to  be  hut  7,816.  while  the  arrest.s  on  Sundays 
were  9,713,  being  an  increase  of  twenty-five  per  cent.,  cau.sed  by  dram  drinking 
alone.  For  three  successive  Sundays,  while  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  was  enforced, 
the  arrests  were  254,  and  on  three  following  Sundays,  when  not  enforced,  the 
arrests  were  503.  These  facts  are  urged  with  great  pertinacity  anJ  force  upon  the 
Police  Depart  jient,  who  are  urged  to  enforce  the  Liquor  Laws  under  the  present 
statutes. 

From  The  Times,  May  21. 

Prevention  op  Crime.— A  thriftless  farmer  leaves  weeds  and  worms  to  scatter 
their  seeds  and  make  their  nests,  until  his  domain  is  worthless.  A  day  of  timely 
labor  would  have  exterminated  his  pests.  We  have  the  image  of  such  a  farmer 
before  us  whenever  our  attention  is  called  to  the  mode  of  dealing  with  moral  ver- 
min in  a  great  city  like  our  own.  Instead  of  nipping  crime  in  the  bud,  drying  up 
fountains  of  evil  rather  than  following  its  streams,  staying  the  causes  of  iuiquitj"^ 
instead  of  fruitless  dealing  with  effects, — the  begiiming,  middle  and  end  of  Police 
tactics  seem  to  lie  directed  to  the  arrest  of  offenders.  It  is  the  hoasL  of  each  return 
from  the  Police  Department  that  the  arrests  have  been  more  numerous  than  ever 
before. 

Now,  we  would  remind  the  Police  Department  that  law,  and  philosophy,  and 
common  sense,  alike  require  the  application  of  its  powers  iu  quite  another  direction. 
While  arrests  should  follow  crime  with  promptness  and  certainty,  let  the  ambition 
of  the  Department  be  to  abate  the  known  incentives  to  wrong-doing:  to  j^r event 
crime  itself.  If  one-half  of  the  patrolmen  were  devoted  to  this  single  object, 
under  intelligent  direction,  and  if  a  corps  of  Detectives  were  employed  for  this 
specific  service,  the  fruits  would  be  apparent  at  once.  But  they  must  be  men  of 
principle — not  loungers  in  dram-shops  and  haunts  of  vice. 

We  would  not  fort'Stall  the  action  of  such  ?i, preventive  Police;  but  one  or  two  hints, 
based  on  the  statistics  of  the  Police  Department  and  the  Almshouse  Reports,  may 
put  them  on  the  scent  of  crime-breeders. 

When  tracing  crime  to  its  causes,  they  will  find  32,200  persons  out  of  35,172 
arrested  and  committed  to  the  City  Prison  in  1858 — or  about  ninety  per  cent. — were 
"intemperate."  Where  did  they  become  "intemperate?"  At  the  seventy-two 
licensed  liquor-shops?  or  at  the  7,702  unlicensed  ones?  If  at  the  latter,  why  not 
execute  the  laws  against  unlicensed  dram  selling,  and  thus  prevent  the  crimes  that 
drunkenness  causes?  If  at  the  former,  why  not  hold  them  to  their  legal  responsi- 
bility!" 

If  they  look  a  little  further,  they  will  find  from  the  statistics  of  their  own  de- 
partment that  Sunday  liquor-selling  adds  twenty-five  per  cent,  on  that  day  to  the 
terrible  daily  average  ot  crime  ;  and  that  even  a  temporary  enforcement  of  the 
numerous  laws  and  ordinances  against  that  traffic  resulted  in  diminishing  crime 
one-half.  Why,  then,  with  such  data,  neglect  the  energetic  application  of  the 
powers  of  the  department  in  suppressing  that  unjustifiable  and  most  demoralizing 
traffic  ? 

So  of  pauperism.  If  the  ofiicial  statement  of  the  Ten  Governors  can  be  relied 
on,  the  number  of  paupers  has  reached  the  prodigious  proportion  of  about  one-seventh 
part  of  the  population — an  increase  of  37,011  within  the  past  year.  There  is  some 
cause  for  this;  what  is  it?  Turn  to  the  Blackwell's  Island  Hospital  Report,  and  you 
read,  "Eighty-five  of  everj'  one  hundred  persons  confess  the  u.se  of  intoxicating 
drinks  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  ;  sixty-one  in  every  hundred  admit  that  they  are 
intemperate  drinkers  or  habitual  drunkards.''  Here  then  cause  and  effect  again 
stand  connected,  and  the  Police  should  occupy  themselves  with  the  cause.  Do  the 
laws  authorize  this  enormous  burden  on  the  wealth  and  industry  of  the  city?  Was 
it  by  a  legitimate  traffic  that  a  hundred  thousand  men,  women  and  children  were 
impoverished  and  thrown  upon  public  charity  ?  If  not,  would  it  not  be  as  well  to 
arrest  the  trafiSc  as  to  support  its  victims  ? 


22  THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

These  are  only  hints.  The  subject  might  have  multiplied  illustrations.  But  the 
principle  is  incontrovertibly  sound  that  the  prevention  rather  than  the  2^^'nishmmt  of 
crime,  as  it  is  the  great  object  of  Government,  should  be  the  first  aim  cf  the  officers 
of  Law. 

From  The  Tribune,  May  21. 

Ake  wk  Fkeejien  ? — It  is  doubtful.  Too  much  liberty  has  made  ns  slaves — slaves 
of  appetite,  and  of  panderers  to  appetite.  In  a  word,  New  York  has  sold  herself 
to  rum.  Rnm  is  king  and  master.  Rum  makes  and  breaks  our  laws.  Rum  electa 
our  rulers.  Rum  robs  our  Treasury.  Rum  piles  up  our  taxes.  Rum  fills  our 
pri;  ons  and  alms-houses.     Rum  is  our  ruin. 

Official  reports  inform  us  that  30,200  out  of  the  3-5,172  persons  arrested  for  crime 
during  the  last  year,  were  "  intemperate  !  "  They  tell  us  that  eighty-five  per  cent, 
of  the  sick  paupers  were  more  or  le.ss  intemperate,  and  that  sixty-one  per  cent, 
wore  habitual  drunkards.  They  tell  us  that  the  total  of  the  pauper  army  in  this 
city  exceeds  100,000 — larger  tlian  the  force  of  Sardinia  when  on  a  war  footing — 
and  that  it  lias  increased  37,011  within  a  single  year.     Rum's  doings  again. 

Cannot  a  truce  be  gained  for  one  day  in  seven  ?  Must  the  poor  man's  rest-day  be 
invaded  l>y  temptation  to  drunkenness  and  crime?  Is  there  not  enough  of  self- 
respect  and  regard  for  decency  left  to  demand  the  protection  which  our  laws  extend 
over  the  cirizens'  right  to  Sunday?  Should  it  not  suffice  that  7,700  dram-shops  are 
allowed  to  drug  the  community  without  license  or  law  six  days  of  the  week  :  and 
must  5,000  of  them  continue  to  break  these  laws  by  every  Sunday  sale  of  these 
intoxicants?  Why,  the  fines  of  a  single  Sunday  for  illegal  sales  of  liquor,  were 
they  collected,  would  pay  the  taxes  of  the  city  for  a  year  !  The  pitiable  condition 
of  our  city  in  this  behalf  is  due  solely  to  the  apathy  of  its  citizens.  A  single  manly 
concerted  movement  of  the  people  would  free  the  city  from  the  power  of  its  tax- 
master,  as  speedily  and  as  peacefully  as  the  Italian  states,  one  after  another,  are 
casting  off  their  tyrants. 

From  The  Morning  Express,  June  3, 

WuAT  ARE  THE  Laws  ? — With  no  king  but  law,  not  one  of  a  thousand  of  our  citi- 
zens know  aught  of  the  vast  body  of  statutes  affecting  popular  rights  and  duties. 
We  have  known  instances  when  intelligent  men  have  rushed  to  Albany  to  demand 
legislation  upon  matters  amply  provided  for  in  existing  laws  ;  and,  even  public  offi- 
cials have  been  heard  to  express  doubts  as  to  the  constitutionality  of  enactments 
long  before  decided  by  the  Court  of  Appeals  as  of  unquestionable  validity,  or  to 
ask  for  authority  to  do  what  the  law  prescribed  their  duty  and  delegated  to  them 
the  power  to  do,  by  specific  statutory  ])rovision. 

Since  the  agitation  of  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic  question,  we  have  taken  occasion 
to  refresh  our  memory  as  to  the  legal  matters  involved.  We  find  concurrent  legis- 
lation on  the  subject  for  almost  half  a  century.  The  statute  of  1813,  confirmed 
by  acts  in  1824-7,  and  in  various  forms  repeated  down  to  1857,  with  decisions  of 
courts  of  highest  authority  in  support  of  every  main  principle — all  go  to  settle  the 
point  that  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  of  whatever  sort  on  Sunday  is  a  misde- 
meanor, to  be  restrained  by  the  magistracy. 

The  laws  of  most  recent  enactment  are  cumulative  in  their  tenov  and  in  their 
stringency.  The  city  ordinance  of  1855 — prompted  and  partially  executed  by 
Mayor  Wood — imposed  a  fine  not  exceeding  $10  for  Sunday  sales,  as  a  misde- 
meanor. The  Law  of  1857  prescribes  a  fine  of  $50  for  every  offence,  if  the  vender 
be  licenced,  and  a  like  penalty  of  $50  for  every  unlicensed  sale,  irrespective  of  the 
pvmishment  to  be  inflicted  for  the  criminal  offence. 

Then  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act  also  imposes  a  fine  of  $50  for  every  act  of  sell- 
ing on  Sunday  or  any  election  day,  and  it  enjoins  it  as  "  the  duty  of  the  Board  of 
Police  to  strictly  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  section." 

Thus,  instead  of  exhuming  some  obsolete  and  defunct  statute — "  your  strict  old 
Sunday  laws,"  as  the  German  Demokrat  phrases  it — the  memorialists  on  the  Sunday 
Liquor  Traffic  simply  demand  the  "  protection  and  relief"  afforded  by  half  a  dozen 
living  statutes,  including  that  which  gave  being  to  the  Police  Board  itself.  If  that 
is  obsolete,  so  is  the  Police  Department. 

We  have  liad  a  bitter  experience  of  lawlessness,  rowdyism,  and  crime.  Year  by 
year  it  has  been  plunging  the  city  into  deeper  disgrace.  Shall  wo  not  try  the  ex- 
periment of  good  laws,  firmly  enforced  by  an  honest  magistracy  and  an  efficient 
police?  If  we  understand  the  pul)lic  wants,  this  is  the  one  desideratum.  If  we 
know  aught  of  public  sentiment,  this  is  the  universal  demand. 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  23 

From  Police  Report  in  The  Timks,  Jv7ie  11. 
COMMON  PLEAS— THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  CASES. 

In  the  Halpin  case  the  jury  found  a  verdict  for  the  State  for  the  amount  of  the 
penalty — $50. 

The  case  of  Peter  Hynes  was  next  called.  This  defendant  is  charged  with  selling 
liquor  on  the  Sabbath  of  the  IGth  of  August,  18Ö7. 

What  appeared  peculiar  and  wholly  unexplained  iu  this  case  was,  that  four-fifths 
of  all  the  jurors  called  were  liquor  dealer?,  or  had  been,  or  were  particular  friends 
of  that  class  of  people.  How  they  came  to  be  present  on  these  particular  trials, 
does  not  clearly  appear. 

CLOSING  OF  THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  SHOPS. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  Jime  20. 

Thk  Liquor  Shops  Yestkrday. — The  police  yesterday  made  a  really  determined 
and  successful  effort  to  shut  up  the  liquor  shops  throughoiat  the  city.  They  have  no 
authority,  it  is  claimed,  to  close  the  establishments  forcibly  and  arrest  the  venders 
in  the  act,  and  therefore  confined  themselves  to  notifying  the  offending  parties 
that  they  would  surely  be  punished  for  a  violation  of  the  ordinance.  Theiutention 
of  the  police  authorities  in  this  respect  having  been  publicly  announced  a  few  days 
ago,  the  liquor-selling  fraternity  very  generally  conformed  to  the  law  by  locking  up 
their  bars  and  literally  closing  their  places  of  business,  front  doors,  back  doors  and 
windows  included,  as  it  was  understood  that  the  mere  technical  closing  of  a  half 
door,  and  one  shutter  up,  which  is  allowed  to  satisfy  on  election  day,  would  not  be 
good  enough  for  Sunday.  The  excellent  effects  of  the  movement  were  plainly  per- 
ceptible throughout  the  city  in  the  marked  diminution  of  drunkennes-s  and  rowdy- 
ism ;  and  for  once  the  day  seemed  like  a  Chiistian  Sabbath  indeed.  The  happy 
change  was  particularly  noticeable  in  the  Fourth,  Sixth  and  Seventeenth  wards,  in 
which  it  had  been  confidently  predicted  that  the  ordinances  never  could  be 
enforced.  That  this  opinion — which  has  long  been  entertained  by  people  of  the 
despairing  sort — is  a  bugbear,  was  completely  proved  by  the  general  compliance 
with  the  police  mandate  in  those  localities  yesterday.  The  rowdies  being  excluded 
from  the  rallying  places  where  it  was  their  Sunday  custom  to  fire  up,  and  then 
issue  forth  for  riot  and  crime,  were  compulsorily  sober  and  peaceable.  A  few 
small  retail  dealers  snapped  their  fingers  at  the  police,  and  defied  the  law  which 
they  will  have  a  chance  to  confront  before  the  magistrates  during  the  present 
week.  The  larger  sellers  cheerfully  acquiesce  in  the  justice  and  propriety  of  the 
ordinance,  and,  as  their  influence  is  on  the  side  of  right,  there  is  no  obstacle  even  in 
this  loosely  governed  metropolis,  in  the  way  of  a  thorough  breaking  up  of  the  Sun- 
day liquor-selling  business. 

From  The  Express,  June  20. 

sj  o  5*  What  has  been  said  of  the  above-mentioned  wards  may  be  said  of  the 
rest.  The  city  was  more  quiet  than  on  any  Sunday  for  many  months.  It  was 
also  seen  that  those  most  obedient  to  the  law  were  the  keepers  of  small  places,  the 
larger  ones  being  kept  wide  open  as  a  general  thing.  In  the  upper  wards  every- 
thing was  unusually  quiet,  and  fewer  shops  were  open  than  down  town.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  the  decrease  in  the  number  of  arrests  throughout  the  city  will  be, 
compared  with  last  Sunday,  about  35  per  cent.,  owing,  as  a  matter  of  course,  to 
the  inability  of  "bummers"  to  get  all  the  liquor  they  wanted.  Even  in  those 
places  kept  open  the  bar-keepers  were  instructed  not  to  sell  to  men  already  affected 
with  liquor,  and  to  this  also  may  be  attributed,  aside  from  the  closing  of  shops, 
the  small  amount  of  drunkenness  that  prevailed. 

This  excellent  beginning  is  the  direct  result  of  the  efforts  of  the  Sabbath  Com- 
mittee. They  have  been  unwearying  in  their  exertions  to  procure  an  observance 
of  the  Sunday  Laws,  and,  with  Temperance  men,  to  jjrocure  the  punishment  of 
those  who  violate  the  most  stringent  provisions  of  those  laws.  The  successful 
litigation  that  has  been  carried  on  against  the  Sunday  liquor-sellers,  during  the 
past  week,  has  also  had  a  very  salutary  efi'ect ;  and  should  the  Court  of  last  resort 
sustain  the  action  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas — of  which  there  can  hardly  be  a 
doubt — the  result  will  be  the  practical  abolition  of  Sunday  liquor-selling  in  this 
city.  We  trust  that  the  gentlemen  who  so  far  have  succeeded  will  persevere  in 
their  good  work  until  the  end.  A  long  and  patient  continuance  in  well-doing 
cannot  fail  to  bring  its  own  reward. 


24  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

From  the  same,  June  IG. 
The  Sunday  Liquor  Cases.— Yesterday  morning,  the  People  having  recovered 
twelve  successive  verdicts  against  the  liquor  dealers  for  violation  of  the  Sunday 
Liquor  law,  Mr.  James  M.  SMrrH.  the  liquor  dealers'  counsel,  entered  into  a  stipula- 
tion in  open  Court,  that  the  ninety-nine  cases  remaining  on  the  calendar  untried 
should  abide  the  ultimate  event  of  the  People  vs.  James  C.  Halpin,  in  which  «case,  it 
will  be  recollected,  a  verdict  was  found  by  the  jury  last  week  for  the  penalty  of 
$50  in  favor  of  the  People.  The  Court  having  approved  of  this  disposition  of  the 
cases,  it  was  assented  to  by  Mr.  Wilcoxson,  in  behalf  of  the  District  Attorney. 


v.— The  G-ermans  and  the  Memorial. 

From,  The  Times,  Jime  1. 

The  Germans  and  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. — We  observe  with  regret  that 
the  Sliiats  Zeitung  and  one  or  two  other  German  dailies  seem  disposed  to  mislead 
their  readers  as  to  the  object  sought  by  the  memorialists  on  the  Sunday  Liquor 
Traffic.  No  new  laws  are  demanded.  No  old  and  obsolete  laws  are  dug  up  for 
enforcement.  All  that  is  asked  of  the  Police  C(jminissioners  is,  the  firm  and  for- 
bearing execution  of  laws  and  ordinances  enacted  under  the  Administration  of 
Mayor  Woon,  in  1855,  and  by  the  Legislature  of  1857,  and  this  after  due  notice 
served  upon  the  offending  parties. 

It  is  no  crusade  of  Temperance  men  against  liquor-sellers,  but  a  calm  appeal 
from  a  large  body  of  our  most  conservative  citizens,  justly  alarmed  at  the  increase 
of  ta.xation,  pauperism  and  crime,  demonstrably  connected  with  Sunday  tippling, 
for  protection  again?t  the  lawless  and  demoralizing  traffic  on  that  day. 

Nor  is  it  a  movement  of  American  citizens  to  abridge  the  rights  or  to  interfere 
with  the  comforts  of  citizens  of  foreign  birth.  The  presentation  of  the  memorial 
in  English,  by  an  influential  delegation,  with  Mr.  Perit  at  its  head,  was  accom- 
panied by  the  presentation  of  a  German  memorial,  numerously  and  respectably 
signed,  by  a  German  delegation,  with  Mr.  Möller,  a  wealthy  sugar-refiner,  at  ita 
head.  Thousands  of  our  German  fellow-citizens  feel  as  deeply  the  dangers  and 
the  disgrace  of  the  Sunday  tippling  habits  of  some  of  their  emigrant  countrymen, 
as  any  American  can.  We  are  a.ssured  on  good  authority,  that  it  would  be  quite 
easy,  it  it  were  needful,  to  present  thou.sands  of  German  names,  attesting  their 
opposition  to  the  immoral  and  destructive  traffic  which  brings  their  national  charac- 
ter into  reproach.  The  law-abiding  element  is  strong  in  the  German  character  ; 
and  when  it  is  known,  as  it  must  eventually  be,  that  the  Sunday  lager-bier  theatres 
and  dancing  saloons,  and  kindred  places  of  temptation  to  crime  ami  wrong-doing, 
are  condemned  alike  by  the  laws  of  the  State  and  the  public  sentiment  of  the  City, 
the  Germans  them,«elves  will  be  the  foremost  to  sustain  the  authorities  in  restrain- 
ing the  selfishness  and  disorder  of  the  few  thousands  among  them  who  prey  upon 
the  substance  and  disgrace  the  name  of  our  Teutonic  fellow-citizens. 

The  organs  of  German  opinion  in  New  York  will  neither  advance  the  interests 
nor  strengthen  the  influence  of  the  race  which  they  represent  by  angry  appeals 
to  the  unenlightened  prejudices  of  their  readers,  against  the  deliberate  drift  of  the 
best  public  sentiment  of  New  York.  With  the  German  theories  of  Sunday  observ- 
ance in  general  we  have  nothing  to  do.  We  advance  no  Pharisaic  and  sweeping 
criticisms  upon  the  customs  which  make  the  Sunday  of  the  German  so  different  a 
day  from  the  Sunday  of  the  Englishman  or  the  American.  Races  may  well  differ 
upon  this  as  upon  so  many  other  points  of  ritual  worship  or  substantial  theology. 
But  it  is  perfectly  compatible  with  the  largest  toleration  that  we  should  insist  upon 
the  observance  by  all  classes  of  the  community  of  statute  laws  which  have^been 
enacted  by  the  delegated  agents  of  the  whole  population.  The  minority  which 
undertakes  to  brow-beat  the  officers  of  the  law  into  suspending  the  discharge  of 
their  duty,  and  seeks  practically  to  nullify  the  established  order  of  municipal  au- 
thority, is  quite  as  justly  chargeable  with  overbearing  bigotry  as  the  majority  which 
sustains  that  order.  A  fanaticism  of  lager-bier  is  certainly  not  more  respectable 
than  a  fanaticism  of  cold  water ;  and  if  our  German  contemporaries  really  think 
themselves  aggrieved  by  the  CrusaderS  of  Temperance,  they  can  hardly  ask  us, 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  25 

therefore,  to  acquiesce  in  their  own  contemptuous  trampling  under  foot  of  the  law 
of  the  land. 

From  The  Express,  May  31. 

The  German  Pkess  on  Sunday  Laws. — The  "Demokrat"'  is  talking  about  the 
"frogs,"  who  presented  to  the  Police  Commissioners  a  D)emorial,  praying  them  to 
enforce  the  Sunday  laws  ;  and  it  is  ver}' indignant  that  two  German  "frogs," 
Messers  Moller  and  Fackiner,  were  among  them.  These  "  frogs,"  it  says,  come  out 
at  times  like  frogs,  croaking  about  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath.  The  Demokrat 
then  quotes  the  memorial,  and  exclaims,  "  that  it  goes  even  beyond  the  real  frogs  !'' 

It  contends  that  the  people  must  have  one  day  in  the  week,  when  they  may  relax 
and  recruit  themselves  ;  and  that  it  is  all  the  fault  of  the  "frogs"  themselves,  that 
on  Sundays  there  is  more  crime  committed  and  more  drunkenness  than  on  any 
other  day  of  the  week,  because  they  cut  off  every  opportunity  for  the  people  to 
enjoy  themselves  properly  on  Sundays.     It  says : 

"  They  are  all  not  such  stockfish  as  to  content  themselves  with  the  prayer-book. 
We  have  some  summer  gardens,  summer  theatres,  &c.,  but  not  half  enough.  Our 
day  steamboats  and  railroads  ought  to  convey  thousands  to  the  suburbs,  where 
music  and  dancing  and  gymnastic  exercises,  on  the  greens,  under  the  trees,  should 
be  in  order  ;  and  joy  and  life  should  reign  supreme  everywhere.  Then,  Messrs. 
water  simpletons,  put  your  noses  in  your  Irish  dram-shops,  and  you  will  find  them 
empty.'' 

This  is  the  sort  of  slang  used  in  answer  to  a  memorial  which  said  not  one  word 
against  Sabbath  recreations,  visits  to  the  suburbs,  &c. ,  which  was  mainly  aimed  at 
Sabbath  drunkenness,  Sabbath  violations  of  law  and  Sabbath  offences,  which  add 
nothing  whatever  to  a  man's  moral,  social,  physical  or  personal  comfort,  but  which, 
upon  the  other  hand,  commit  nothing  but  injuries.  We  know  very  well  that 
reformers  may  push  things  to  extremes,  but  when  they  do  not  ask  for  these  ex- 
tremes, and  do  ask  for  only  that  which  is  right,  the  German  Press  ought  to  help 
and  bless  them,  instead  of  maligning  and  denouncing  their  efforts  for  good. 

From  The  Times,  June  3. 

Our  Germanic  Coteniporaries. 

The  literature  of  Lager-bierdom  is  all  Dutch,  happily  or  unhappily,  to  the  great 
mass  of  New  Yorkers.  The  Demokrat  or  the  StaaU- Zeitung  may  rail,  or  blaspheme, 
or  talk  treason  bj'  the  column,  and  not  one  of  a  thousand  of  those  to  the  manor  born 
know  a  word  about  it.  Thus,  one  of  the  most  important  elements  of  our  popula- 
tion may  be  corrupted  and  misled  on  grave  questions  of  moral  or  political  concern, 
not  only  without  the  knowledge  of  the  English-speaking  population,  but  without 
any  antidote — for  there  is  not  a  single  German  journal  that  can  be  relied  on  to 
communicate  fairly  the  views  commonly  cherished  in  this  country  on  questions 
involving  distinctive  national  characteristics, — not  one  that  represents  justly  the 
opinions  of  the  Americanized  portion  of  the  German  population  itself. 

We  have  an  illustration  of  the  condition  of  matters  in  this  respect  in  the  course 
of  the  German  press  of  New  York  on  the  "  Sunday  Liquor  Memorial,"  presented 
by  respectable  American  and  German  Delegations,  last  week,  to  the  Board  of  Police 
Commissioners.  Instead  of  treating  a  document  of  the  most  marked  character  for 
its  prudence  and  forbearance — leaving  the  general  Temperance  question  as  well  as 
the  general  Sunday  question  wholly  out  of  view — with  courtesy  or  decency,  these 
organs  of  the  Lager-bier  interest  resort  to  the  most  vulgar  abuse  of  the  memorial- 
ists, and  to  the  grossest  misrepresentations  of  the  memorial.  Appeals  are  made  to 
the  lowest  passions  and  prejudices.  An  attempt  is  made  to  override  law  and  cus- 
tom dear  to  every  American,  and  to  inaugurate  the  manners  and  morals  of  a  special 
class  of  European  immigrants  in  their  stead.  According  to  the  Demokrat,  the  500 
or  600  gentlemen  who  signed  that  memorial  are  "  hull-frogs,"  who  stick  their  heads 
out  of  the  mire  of  their  orthodox  faith  and  croak  into  the  world,  "  keep  the  Sab- 
bath !"  The  act  of  presenting  a  respectful  memorial  for  the  execution  of  numer- 
ous laws  recently  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State,  but  openly  defied  by  a  small 
class  of  refugees  from  the  Old  World — is  styled  a  "  frog-concert  ;"  and  gentlemien 
of  position  and  worth  are  "  a  Delegation  of  frog-heads  '" 


26  THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

Tlie  Staats- Zeitung  seems  to  have  a  little  more  method  in  its  madness,  but  is  very 
mad  nevertheless.  It  sees  nothing  in  the  movement  but  ultra-Temperance  and 
ultra-Sabbatli  oppres.-^ions,  which  are  to  be  manfully  resisted  !  One  would  suppose, 
from  its  diatribe,  that  each  of  the  thousand  memorialists  was  a  rampant  reformer 
of  the>  Garrison  type,  vrith  a  besom  in  bis  baud,  as  formidable  as  Luther's  pen, 
which  readied  from  Ei-furt  to  Rome ! 

Our  Teutonic  neighbors  should  remember  that  all  of  their  readers  are  not  forced 
to  gather  all  knowledge  of  city  affairs  from  their  columns.  There  are  large  num- 
bers of  respectable  merchants,  importers,  and  others,  who  read  both  German  and 
English  ;  who  know  the  character  of  the  abused  memoralists,  and  of  the  memorial, 
and  who  also  know  that  the  German  name  suffers  by  the  attempted  identification  of 
it  with  the  ascertained  causes  of  our  city's  predominant  curses  and  crimes.  They 
know  that  the  once  frugal  and  industrious  German  emigrants  are  preyed  upon  by 
interested  countrymen,  who  beguile  them  of  money,  health  and  character,  by  their 
pot-houses  and  Sunday  theatres,  so  tliat  beggary  and  ruin  are  coming  to  be  common 
among  Germans,  as  they  used  not  to  be.  And  knowing  these  things,  it  will  be  in 
vain  that  editors  lend  their  columns  to  the  support  of  the  law-breaking,  pauper- 
malving,  crime-breeding  traffic,  even  if  it  is  associated  with  the  lax,  and,  in  many 
cases,  vicious  notions  of  Sunday  observance  cherished  by  a  part  of  our  continental 
immigrants. 

Wc  would  also  suggest  to  our  German  neighbors  that  something  is  due  to  the 
deep-rooted  cunvictions  and  the  time-honored  laws  of  the  land  of  their  adoption. 
Emigrants  from  Europe  knew,  if  they  knew  anything  of  America,  that  Sunday  was 
liere  held  in  popular  estimation  as  a  day  of  rest  and  worship,  and  guarded  as  such 
by  statutes  in  vogue  from  the  foundation  of  our  Government.  They  knew  that 
the  rollicking  pastimes,  and  drunken  carousals,  and  popular  theatricals  common  to 
some  parts  of  Europe,  were  unknown  and  unsuffered  here.  While  no  statute 
abridges  the  rights  of  conscience  or  prescribes  any  method  of  Sunday  observance, 
numerous  laws  hedge  around  the  poor  man's — every  man's  right  to  undisturbed 
quiet  one  day  in  seven  ;  and,  in  the  interest  of  the  laboring  man,  interpose  needful 
restraints  on  the  selfishness  that  would  compel  him  to  labor,  or  tempt  him  to  dissi- 
pation. In  this  view,  may  we  not  claim  that  the  Sunday  laws,  until  repealed,  shall 
be  respected  and  enforced  ? 

The  old  proverb,  "When  among  Romans  do  as  the  Romans  do," — though  capable 
of  abuse  and  having  its  limitations,  yet  embodies  a  maxim  of  morals  and  manners. 
Suppose  American  residents  in  Berlin  or  Vienna  should  take  it  into  their  heads  that 
a  rollicking  Fourth  of  July,  with  songs,  and  toasts,  and  rockets,  was  more  jovial 
than  Good  Friday,  with  its  stillness  and  gloom  ;  or  should  prefer  to  substitute  a 
weekly  carnival  of  the  sort  for  the  frequent  Fast  or  Saints'  days  of  the  calendar — 
would  it  be  seemly  and  right  to  claim  a  place  for  such  offensive  or  revolutionary 
plans?  Would  it  be  oppressive  or  discourteous  should  the  gens  d' armes  say:  "  Gen- 
tlemen, you  came  from  America  with  the  knowledge  of  our  laws  and  customs  ;  you 
are  free  to  enjoy  their  protection,  or  to  return  to  your  homes  :  but  while  you  stay, 
you  must  forego  even  cherished  national  peculiarities  oti'ensive  to  our  laws  and  dan- 
gerous to  our  institutions." 

Whether  right  or  wrong,  Americans  cling  to  Sunday,  and  will  cling  to  it,  and  to 
all  that  is  necessary  to  its  vitality  as  a  day  of  home,  happiness,  and  devotion. 
And,  in  spite  of  the  blunders  of  temperance  reformers,  they  will  cling  with  equal 
tenacity  to  the  cardinal  virtue  of  temperance  rightly  understood,  so  as  to  save  the 
city  and  the  nation  from  plunging  into  the  besotting  vice  of  drunkenness. 

Translated  from  The  New  York  Demokrat,  May  30. 

"Tue  Lord's  Day."- — As  bull-frogs  from  time  to  time  stick  their  heads  out  of 
the  mire,  and  liy  their  melodious  croaking  fill  the  listening  air  and  then  again  re- 
turn to  their  watery  and  muddy  clement,  so  the  Sabbath-holy  ones  now  and  then 
put  forth  their  heads  out  of  the  mire  of  their  orthodox  faith,  and  croak  into  the 
world  :  "  Keep  the  Sabbath  !  "  "  Break  not  the  Lord's  Day  !  "  Such  a  frog-con- 
cert was  had  on  Friday  afternoon  before  the  Police  Commissioners,  to  whom,  by  a 
delegation  of  frogheads,  was  delivered  a  memorial,  in  which  they  protest  most 
sacredly  against  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  on  Sunday,  and  ask  the  enforcement 
of  the  Sunday  laws. 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  27 

The  Times  names  anionpf  the  delegates  two  Germans,  though  it  is  said  there  have 
been  more  with  them.  On  Saturday  we  received  a  German  petition  to  gather  sub- 
scriptions for  the  above  purpose.  The  following  passage  may  serve  as  a  character- 
istic of  the  same ;     *     *     *     * 

This  beats  the  frogs ! 

However,  ye  lords  of  the  Sabbath,  hear  a  word  in  earnest !  Why  are  the  tav- 
erns crowded  mostly  on  Sunday?  Why  is  more  crime  committed  on  Sunday  than 
on  other  days  ?    Are  not  the  same  taverns  anrl  theatres  open  every  day  ? 

You  yourselves  are  to  blame,  with  your  strict  old  Sunday  laws.  The  workman  is 
deprived  of  his  day  of  recreation,  which  he  needs  after  a  week's  toil.  Not  every 
body  is  so  stockfish-like  as  to  find  recreation  in  the  prattling  of  a  black  gown  or  in 
a  pious  prayer-book.  The  narrow  workshop  requires  the  contrast  of  open  nature, 
and  the  necessity  of  work  compels  perfect  freedom.  Well,  then,  give  this  natural 
inclination  a  free  course,  and  the  Sunday  will  be  a  day  of  joy  and  not  of  vice. 

To  that  freedom  it  will  and  must  come  yet  in  spite  of  the  croaking  of  the  water- 
men ;  every  day  shows  progress  in  this  respect — and  all  the  harmonic  music-making 
from  the  miry  regions  "  is  for  the  cat"  (for  nothing). 

Though,  in  some  places  where  influence  of  the  preachers  predominates,  they 
should  succeed  to  repress  reason  for  a  while,  to  dream  such  a  thing  of  New  York 
is  ridiculous. 

We  have  summer  gardens  and  summer  theatres,  but  not  half  enough.  Steam- 
boats and  railroads  must  yet  carry  the  thousands  into  the  open  air  on  Sunday  ; 
music  and  dancing  must  sound  under  green  trees  and  whither  we  turn  ;  everywhere 
we  must  meet  pleasure  and  life  and  joy;  and  then,  ye  lord  water- simpletons,  ycu 
may  stick  your  no-ses  into  the  rum-pot  houses  which  make  your  pious  hearts  trem- 
ble so  much,  and  you  will  find  them  empty,  but  not  before. 

Translated  from  The  New  York  Staats  Zeitung,  May  31. 

Sunday  Law  Petitions. — Petitions  demanding  the  strict  observance  of  the  5th 
Section  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  Act  are  now  going  around.  One  translated  into 
German  has  come  into  our  hands.  We  do  not  recommend  signing  it,  and  decidedly 
caution  against  it. 

This  fifth  paragraph,  it  is  known,  speaks  of  the  Sunday  law.  The  petition  has 
particular  regard  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor. — it  is  a  temperance  petition.  We 
do  not  intend  to  excite  to  disobedience  of  existing  laws,  neither  is  it  in  our  mind 
to  speak  the  word  for  a  movement  in  favar  of  laws  whose  constitutionality  we 
have  always  disputed. 

We  consider  drunkenness,  either  publicly  or  privately  indulged  in,  a  vice  ;  nor 
do  we  belong  to  those  who  think  intoxication  on  the  Sunda}'^  more  justifiable  than 
on  a  week  day  ;  but  we  combat  every  thing  done  in  the  interest  of  the  temjjerance  principle 
as  prejudices,  hypocrisy,  and  political  capital.  Whoever  puts  his  name  to  the  petition  sub- 
scribes to  all  these  prejudices,  and  as  an  immigrant  takes  the  same  position  to  the 
temperance  fanatics,  in  which  aa  adopted  citizen  stands  who  petitions  for  para- 
graph 12  ;  for  in  the  circular  the  immigrants  are  particularly  mentioned  as  Sunday 
violators. 

The  error  and  arbitrariness  which  connect  the  European  Sunday  observance  with 
the  increase  of  crime  and  pauperism,  have  been  sufficiently  discussed  by  us.  We 
give  the  same  answer  to  the  originators  of  the  petition,  based  upon  the  Sunday 
manifestoes  of  several  grand  juries,  which  we  gave  to  the  argument  of  the  grand 
jurors.  At  that  time  we  proved  by  figures  that  the  imprisonments  on  Sundays  did 
not  originate  in  an  actual  increase  of  immoral  actions,  but  from  the  fact  that  the 
Metropolitan  Police  law  created  a  new  kind  of  unlawful  deeds. 

[Were  not  the  "  unlawful  deeds"  the  same  in  '57  as  in  '58 — the  periods  when 
the  returns  were  made  ?] 

To  show  the  character  of  the  petition,  we  will  cite  the  following  passage :  "  And 
we  say  that  our  free  institutions  cannot  exist  with  it,  as  their  preservation  and  pros- 
perity depend  upon  the  public  acknowledgment  of  the  ten  commandments,  and  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  New  Testament." 

But  there  are  two  points  of  the  circular  which  seem  to  us  unintelligible  above  all 
others.  First,  how  such  a  pious  document  can  prove  the  material  fact  that  the 
revenues  of  the  city  are  defrauded  through  the  existence  of  unlicensed  tippling 


28  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR   TEAFFIC. 

houses — as  if  the  price  of  lost  souls  could  be  any  blessing  to  the  city  treasury  !  and 
secondly,  how  jjond  Christians  can  malce  the  being  in  favor  with  God  of  their  fel- 
low-men dependent  upon  prohibitory  laws  and  the  physical  impossibility  of  indulg- 
ing in  vice,  and  thereby  deprive  public  morals  of  their  true  merit,  which  is  volun- 
tary abstinence. 

From  The  Journal  of  Commerce,  June  5. 

German  Notions. — "  Yankee  Notions"  are  proverbial.  There  are  German  no- 
tions as  well.  Some  of  them  are  good  ;  some  are  indifferent  ;  and  others  are  posi- 
tively bad.  When  they  assume  a  form  of  evil,  they  must  be  rebuked,  as  much  for 
the  advantage  of  those  by  whom  they  are  fostered  as  for  the  public  safety. 

The  ardent  love  of  freedom  which  has  ever  characterized  the  Teutonic  race  com- 
mends them  to  American  fellow.-liip.  The  industry  and  frugality  commonly  exist- 
ing amongst  this  class  of  people  make  them  welcome  accessions  to  our  population. 
Under  right  influences,  and  especially  when  dispersed  among  our  American  popula- 
tion in  reasonable  numbers,  so  as  to  blend  their  stream  of  life  with  our  own,  they 
become  our  most  valuable  citizens,  and  deserve  as  they  receive  a  high  measure  of 
regard. 

But  when  congregated  in  masses,  so  as  to  retain  the  worst  peculiarities  and  preju- 
dices of  their  race — and  these  stimulated  into  intenser  action  by  a  skeptical  press, 
by  Red  ilepublican  orators  smarting  under  the  European  reaction  of  '49,  and  by  the 
drinking  saloons  and  Sunday  theatricals  continually  tempting  them,  to  beggary  and 
ruin,  they  become  quite  another  and  an  unsafe  class — the  more  dangerous  that  they 
are  secluded  by  difference  of  language  from  those  moulding,  elevating  influences 
which  act  perpetually  on  an  English-speaking  population. 

The  Eastern  portion  of  our  city  is  rapidly  becoming  essentially  German  in  char- 
acter. The  Eleventh  and  Seventeenth  Wards,  with  some  others,  already  contain 
more  Germans  than  most  of  the  cities  of  the  fatherland.  It  is  becoming  more  and 
more  important  that  the  notioixs  prevailing  among  them  should  be  understood,  and 
their  bearings  on  our  customs  and  laws  canvassed.  We  may  find  some  lessons  to  be 
learned  from  them  ;  they  may  need  to  be  taught  some  important  truths. 

Our  notions  of  Sunday  are  certainly  at  wide  variance.  With  us  it  is  a  religious 
festival,  sacred  to  rest  and  devotion.  Ordinary  business  stands  still.  Ordinary 
pastimes  are  laid  aside.  We  give  one  day  in  seven  to  physical  repose  and  spiritual 
improvement ;  and  our  laws  compel  the  employer  to  respect  the  universal  right  of 
the  laboring  classes  to  this  boon  of  heaven.  They  go  one  stop  farther,  and,  still  in 
the  interest  of  the  poor  man,  they  forbid  the  Sunday  publican  from  grasping  the 
hard  earnings  of  the  week,  and  perverting  the  poor  man's  only  rest-day  into  a  curse 
to  himself,  to  his  family,  and  to  the  community.  With  Americo-Germans,  Sunday 
is  the  time  for  material  and  sensuous  enjoyment — for  pic-nics  ;  excursions  by  land 
and  water  ;  target-shooting  ;  noisy  music  ;  dancing  ;  theatrical  amusements,  all  ac- 
companied by  the  freest  potations  of  Lager-bier,  or  something  stronger,  that  the 
capacity  of  tlie  stomach  or  the  pocket  will  admit. 

We  will  not  pause  to  discuss  the  merits  of  these  notions  respectively.  A  single 
sentence  from  a  German  paper  of  last  Saturday  will  show  that  we  have  stated  the 
matter  fairly.  "  We  have  summer  gardens  and  summer  theatres,"  says  the  Dem- 
okrat ;  "  but  not  enough  by  far.  Steamboats  and  railroads  must  yet  carry  thousands 
into  the  open  air  on  Sunday  ;  music  and  dancing  must  sound  under  green  trees  ;  and 
wheresover  we  turn,  everywfhere,  we  must  have  pleasure  and  life  and  joy  ;  and 
then,  ye  lord  Water-simples,  [Memorialists]  you  may  stick  your  noses  into  the  rum- 
pot-houses,  which  make  your  pious  hearts  tremble  so  much,  and  you  will  find  them 
empty;  but  not  before." 

We  are  not  certain  that  the  means  of  "  emptying  the  rum-pot-houses''  would  not 
fill  others  as  full ;  thmigh  they  might  be  dispersed  in  the  suburbs,  and  afford  our 
neighbors  along  the  Hudson  and  on  tlie  Bay  a  taste  of  one  of  our  O-be-joyful  city 
Sundays  under  German  ausjuces.  One  thing  we  know,  that  of  all  the  impure,  ill- 
ventilated,  health-destroying  places  in  any  land,  a  crowded  lager-bier  theatre  in  the 
Bowery  or  on  Fourth  street  on  a  Sunday  night,  is  the  very  climax.  So  that  the 
pretext  of  escaping  from  "  the  prattling  of  a  black-gown  or  a  pious  prayer-book," 
to  "  find  recreation,"  is  as  bald  a  folly  as  to  rush  from  Broadway  to  Cherry  street  in 
search  of  a  clean  street. 


THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  29 

But,  the  merits  of  these  notions  apart,  which  is  to  prevail  ?  Which,  with  its  his- 
torical antecedents,  ought  to  prevail  ?  Certain  it  is  that  a  century  or  two  of  experiment 
with  our  American  Suaday  has  not  weakened  the  attachment  of  our  people  to  what- 
ever is  essential  to  its  beneficent  provisions.  As  to  its  physical,  mental,  moral,  so- 
cial influence,  we  have  not  discovered  any  radical  cause  for  distrusting  or  discard- 
ing it.  Our  national  life  has  thriven  sufficiently  to  have  attracted  millions  of  people 
from  the  lands  where  "  the  pleasure,  life  and  joy"  of  a  weekly  holiday  have  been 
had  to  the  full.  Nor  are  we  aware  that  the  people  remaining  in  those  lauds  find  the 
pathway  to  freedom  through  "  music  and  dancing  sounding  under  green  trees''  par- 
ticularly safe  or  certain,  however  full  of  "pleasure."  We  have  some  recollection 
of  a  passage  in  Hallam  which  alludes  to  the  policy  of  Continental  Despots  to  "  en- 
courage a  love  of  pastime  and  recreation  in  the  people  ;  both  because  it  keeps  them  from  specu- 
lating in  religious  and  political  matters,  and  because  it  renders  them  more  cheerful  and 
less  sensible  to  the  evils  of  their  condition.''  On  the  whole,  then,  it  would  seem 
that,  under  a  free  government,  it  is  as  safe,  to  say  the  least,  to  hold  to  the  anchor- 
age at  which  the  only  free  nations  in  the  world  have  ridden  safely,  and  not  yet  to 
put  to  sea  with  lager  for  our  cargo,  Sunday  for  our  sailing  day,  and  perdition  for 
our  port. 

From  The  Journal  of  Commerce,  June  11. 

More  German  Notions. — Our  German  contemporaries  presume  too  far  on  the 
ignorance  of  the  English  tongue  among  Germans,  and  of  the  German  tongue  among 
Americans.  The  necessities  of  the  press  compel  a,  polyglott  staff  in  connection  with 
our  leading  journals,  and  the  necessities  of  business  constrain  thousands  of  our 
German  fellow  citizens  to  speak  and  read  the  English  language.  This  is  well,  for 
otherwise  the  isolation  of  a  large  element  of  our  population,  and  their  subjection 
to  the  prejudices  of  journals  little  in  sympathy  with  the  interests  and  institutions 
of  the  country  of  their  adoption,  might  be  productive  of  great  mischief  to  us  and  to 
them.  The  true  interests  of  native  and  foreign-born  are  identical.  There  is  abund- 
ant room  for  all.  Our  institutions  are  elastic  enough  and  good  enough  to  protect 
the  rights  and  promote  the  well-being  of  all.  They  are  the  common  enemies  of  all 
who  seek  to  foment  jealousies  and  prejudices  fatal  to  mutual  good  understanding 
and  confidence.  We  have  more  than  once  had  occasion  to  rebuke  native  prejudices ; 
now  it  seems  necessary  to  remonstrate  against  like  tendencies  among  the  Germans. 

The  Demokrat  and  the  Staats  Zeitung  seem  determined  not  to  understand  the  design 
of  the  memorialists  on  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic,  and  continue  to  misrepresent  the 
whole  matter.  With  them  "Temperance"  is  an  abomination,  and  Sunday  re- 
straints are  the  offspring  of  superstition.  Both,  in  their  view,  are  bound  up  in  this 
"croaking  of  bull-frogs,"  and  hence  they  counsel  opposition  and  resistance.  With 
exclusively  German  readers,  this  dodge  may  be  successful.  But,  just  so  far  as  the 
fact  becomes  known  that  the  signers  ofthat  memorial,  with  scarcely  an  exception, 
are  gentlemen  as  far  from  ultra-temperance  affinities  as  they  are  from  other  ultra- 
isms — that  not  one  of  them,  so  far  as  is  known,  entertains  extreme  views  on  the 
Sunday  question — that  they  are  men  of  all  parties  and  creeds,  intelligently  alarmed 
as  to  the  growth  of  pauperism,  crime,  and  consequent  taxation  and  misery,  con- 
nected with  Sunday  tippling — the  representations  of  these  German  papers  must  react, 
and  all  but  the  German  keepers  of  Sunday  theatres  and  saloons,  and  their  unhappy 
victims,  will  come  to  repudiate  the  mistaken  leadership  that  would  commit  them 
to  the  support  of  lawlessness  and  immorality.  It  ought  to  be  a  significant  fact  for 
the  editois  of  these  papers,  that  not  one  of  our  dozen  daily  journals  printed  in  the 
English  language  has  ventured  to  question  the  reasonable  request  of  the  memorial 
that  the  existing  laws  be  published  and  enforced.  Not  even  the  Herald,  cited  by 
the  Demokrat  as  "  vigorously  defending  the  right  born  with  us,"  has  disputed  this 
ground.  Whatever  may  be  the  delinquencies  of  our  journalism,  no  paper  and  no 
party  will  hazard  its  reputation  by  an  open  commitment  on  the  side  of  rebellion 
and  crime — and  there  is  no  other  side  to  take,  as  against  the  petition  respecting 
Sunday  liquor  selling. 

But  our  neighbor  of  the  Demokrat  thinks  he  caught  us  napping  when  we  remarked 
last  week  that  "  a  century  or  two  of  experiment  with  our  American  Sunday  has  not 
weakened  the  attachment  of  our  people  to  whatever  is  essential  to  its  beneficent 
provisions."  As  a  specimen  of  the  logic  and  taste  of  Americo-German  journalism., 
we  quote  : 


30  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

"  How  the  editor  can  reconcile  the  Blue  Laws,  which  make  cookinp;,  promenad- 
ing, and  kissing  of  wife  and  children  on  Suuday,  a  sin,  and  which  200  j'ears  ago 
were  considered  essential  for  sustaining  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbatli,  with  the  run- 
ning of  trains  on  the  Railroads,  even  io  Boston  and  Brooklyn,  is  a  riddle  to  us. 
The  Sunday  laws  of  Cotton  Mather  &  Co.  have  lost  so  much  of  their  terror  in  the 
course  of  two  centuries,  that  an  illustrated  copy  of  them  might  be  profitably  ex- 
hibited by  Barnum  for  the  amusement  of  the  public.  What  is  left  of  them  will  fall 
to  the  ground  in  America  as  soon  as  reason  shall  escape  from  the  prison  of  faith." 

The  English  of  this  sentiment  we  suppose  to  be,  that  when  Atheism  shall  have 
supplanted  the  popular  belief  in  the  existence  and  supremacy  of  the  Divine  Being, 
and  blind  "  reason"  shall  have  superseded  Revelation,  lager-beerdom  will  have  its 
own  way,  without  human  or  divine  laws  to  restrain  the  greed  of  its  agents,  or  to 
protect  the  rights  of  its  victims.  We  will  not  controvert  that  sentiment  ;  we  only 
ask  "  Wlien  will  the  long  expected  day  begin  ?"  And  as  to  the  historical  question, 
a  brief  word,  not  for  our  readers,  but  for  the  editor  of  the  Demokrat,  and  if  he 
pleases  for  his  readers.  Strict  as  were  the  Puritan  notions  of  the  Sabbath — made  so 
by  a  natural  recoil  from  the  latitudinarian  views  of  the  country  they  had  left — the 
stereotyped  caricature  of  them  in  the  "Blue  Laws"  [which  never  existed,  save  in 
the  imagination  of  wicked  men,]  ought  not  to  find  a  place  in  a  journal  of  our  day, 
claiming  common  intelligence.  It  is  very  lame  and  vulgar  wit  that  resorts  to  such 
devices,  and  much  worse  argument. 

But,  even  it  there  had  been  provincial  follies  of  legislation  as  to  the  Sabbath,  they 
did  not  etfect  "  whatever  is  essential  to  its  beneficent  provisions."  The  history  of 
American  legislation  furnishes  a  consistent  record  here.  The  earliest  and  the  latest 
laws  of  all  oiu'  States — with  one  or  two  exceptions,  where  the  Fi-ench  and  Spanish 
element  predominated — have  recognized  the  necessity  of  a  weekly  day  of  rest  for 
man  and  beast.  They  have  made  the  first  day  of  the  week  a  dies  non  as  to  all  ordi- 
nary labor  and  moneyed  contracts.  They  have  sought  to  secure  a  breathing  time 
for  the  sons  of  toil,  white  or  black,  bond  or  free.  They  have  said  to  capital,  "  you 
shall  not  compel  seven  days'  work,  but  you  shall  pay  enough  for  the  six  working 
days,  to  enable  the  laborer  to  have  the  seventh  as  a  day  of  rest."  And  then  they 
have  said  to  rumsellers  and  lager-venders,  "  You  shall  not  have  a  monopoly  of 
trade,  and  practise  your  arts  of  temptation  on  the  only  day  of  rest  the  working 
man  has;  you  shall  not  empty  his  week's  earnings  into  your  till,  instead  of  the 
hungry  mouths  of  his  family."  These  things  the  laws  have  always  been  saying, 
with  increasing  emphasis  ;  and  are  we  now  to  be  told  that  such  laws  are  and 
always  have  been  unconstitutional  f  Who  says  that?  The  toiling  masses  for  whose 
benefit  they  were  enacted  ?  Or  the  men  whose  selfishness  would  rob  the  poor  man 
of  his  rest  and  his  money  too  ? 

These  "  essentially  beneficent  provisions"  of  our  Sunday  laws  were  never  more 
popular  in  this  country  than  now,  in  spite  of  the  tide  of  immigration,  and  notwith- 
standing the  mistakes  both  of  Sunday  reformers  and  Sunday  haters.  It  is  only  when 
extreme  claims  are  made,  or  arc  supposed  to  be  made,  as  to  coercive  Suuday  observ- 
ance, tliat  our  people  revolt.  But  our  laws  make  no  such  claims.  They  do  not 
touch  the  question  of  religious  obligation  and  observance  ;  that  is  left,  as  it  should 
be,  to  the  individual  conscience.  They  do  protect  the  rights  of  those  who  wish 
to  "  remember  the  Sabbatli  day  to  keep  it  holy,"  and  they  forbid  the  interruption  of 
public  worship.  But  a  man  may  drink  himself  drunk,  or  make  a  fool  or  a  beast  of 
himself  in  any  other  way  on  Suuday,  if  he  will,  and  the  laws  do  not  forbid  him  ; 
but  they  do  forbid  his  disturbing  the  public  peace,  or  interfering  with  the  rights  of 
his  fellow  men. 

These  statutes  and  the  sentiments  they  embody,  form  as  essential  a  part  of  our 
national  life  as  the  representative  system,  or  the  trial  by  jury  ;  nay,  they  are  more 
characteristic  and  fundamental,  for  they  affect  our  moral  as  well  as  political  founda- 
tions. Duponceau,  tlie  venerable  helper  from  France  in  our  Revolutionary  strug- 
gle, after  a  long  residence  here,  wont  so  far  as  to  say,  "  that  of  all  we  claimed  as 
characteristic,  our  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  only  one  truly  national  and 
American,  and  for  this  cause,  if  for  no  other,  he  trusted  it  would  never  lose  its  hold 
on  our  affections  and  patriotism."  It  never  will.  And  if  our  counsel  were  of  any 
avail  among  our  German  and  other  immigrant  classes,  it  would  be  that  they  content 
themselves  with  the  full  and  equal  measure  of  freedom,  civil  and  religious,  under 
which  this  nation  has  prospered  as  no  other  on  the  globe  can  hope  to  do  ;  and  that 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  31 

they  forego  those  preferences  and  practices  of  the  old  world  which  have  necessitated 
governments  of  force  there,  as  they  may  here,  if  self  .assertion,  lawlessness  and 
irreligion  invade  our  wise  and  happy  government  of  law. 


VI.— Public  Drinking  Fountains. 

From  The  Express,  May  21, 

Croton  Fountains  for  the  People. — The  people  are  earnestly  waiting  for  the 
next  step  towards  the  establishment  of  Croton  Fountains  by  which  pure  water  shall 
be  as  free  as  air  to  all.  We  hope  that  Alderman  Peck  and  Councilman  Ottarson, 
who  took  the  initiative  in  bringing  the  matter  before  the  Common  Council,  will  not 
rest  until  the  fountains  have  become  an  established  fact,  pouring  out  their  crystal 
waters,  so  that  every  one  that  thirsteth  may  "Come  and  drink,  without  money 
and  without  price."  The  credit  of  the  suggestion  has  been  claimed  by  one  of  our 
morning  contemporaries  ;  but  it  belongs  in  fact  to  the  Sabbath  Committee,  who,  in 
their  last  tract  on  "the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,''  published  some  months  ago,  used 
the  following  language: 

"The  establishment  of  public  fountains,  to  which  thirsty  men  may  resort,  would 
be  a  measure  of  great  practical  utility,  at  comparatively  trifling  cost.  They  need 
not  be  of  marble  or  bronze,  elaborately  wrought,  as  in  most  European  cities  ;  the 
simplest  arrangement  by  which  the  health-giving  Croton  could  be  easily  reached  by 
the  poorest  laboring  man,  would  suffice.  Formerly  the  street  pump  partially  supplied 
this  want ;  but  now  the  artisan  or  laborer  who  would  slake  his  thirst,  can  find 
almost  no  public  place  in  the  city  to  which  he  can  resort  with  a  feeling  of  right 
to  a  cup  of  cold  water  ;  and  he  is  driven  to  a  dram-shop,  where  a  false  notion  of 
self-respect  impels  him  to  drink  that  which  costs  him  something — and  it  often  does 
cost  him  more  than  he  had  counted  upon.  As  a  preventive  of  drunkenness,  and 
a  means  of  removing  temptation  to  evil  haunts  and  habits,  it  is  believed  that  this 
expedient  would  be  found  worthy  of  trial,  to  say  nothing  of  its  sanitary  and 
humane  aspects,  which  are  far  from  inconsiderable.'' 

Now  that  this  sensible  and  humane  proposition  bids  fair  to  assume  a  practical 
form,  the  gentlemen  of  the  Sabbath  Committee,  individually  and  collectively, 
should  bring  their  powerful  influence  to  bear,  for  its  success,  on  the  Common  Coun- 
cil. An  active  demonstration  from  that  Committee,  just  now,  might  hasten  the 
laggard  action  of  the  Circumlocution  Office.  Let  there  be  no  shuffling  about  the 
question.  It  is  not  one  of  a  difficult  nature,  and  should  be'  decided  at  once.  If  we 
are  to  have  the  fountains,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  putting  them  into  operation  ; 
if  we  are  not  to  have  them,  the  people  ought  to  know  it,  and  know,  also,  who  it 
is  that  denies  the  right  of  drawing  pure  water. 

From.  The  Herald,  May  31. 

Give  Drink  to  the  T'hirsty. — We  perceive  that  our  suggestions  about  establish- 
ing public  drinking  fountains  throughout  the  city  have  been  taken  up  and  advo- 
cated in  difi"erent  quarters,  and  that  the  President  of  the  Croton  Board  sent  a  com- 
munication to  the  Common  Council  last  evening  on  the  subject.  We  are  constantly 
receiving  communications  approving  the  idea.  Even  the  religious  newspapers  are 
coming  out  in  favor  of  hydrants  or  public  fountains.  We  hope  they  will  advocate  our 
proposition,  that  a  hydrant  and  drinking  cup  should  be  placed  in  the  vicinity  of  all 
the  churches,  so  that  the  spires  and  turrets  thereof  might  serve  as  indices  to  the 
thirsty  wayfarer,  pointing  to  the  spot  where  he  can  be  nourished  from  the  fountain 
of  pure  Croton,  as  well  as  the  fountain  of  spiritual  grace.  This  plan  is  being  now 
carried  out  in  London,  and  it  strikes  us  as  aa  excellent  one.  There  is  not  a  city  in 
the  world  with  so  large  a  population  as  ours  so  wholly  unprovided  with  the  means 


32  THE  SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

of  enjoying  a  simple  drink  of  water,  notwithstanding  that  an  ever-flowing  stream 
of  it,  pure  and  cold,  gurgles  beneath  our  feet  in  every  highway.  But  it  flows 
unseeu  and  untasted  by  the  traveller  who  broils  in  the  sun  through  our  hot,  dusty 
streets. 

Independent  of  the  value  of  public  fountains  to  physical  comfort  and  good  health, 
as  elements  in  the  moral  improvement  of  the  masses,  they  should  be  encouraged  by 
the  clergy,  by  temperance  reformers,  philanthropists  generally,  and  by  the  clergy 
especially  ;  for  they  should  remember  what  their  Master  promised  to  those  who 
give  a  cup  of  water  even  to  the  least  one. 

It  may  be  that  for  every  fountain  you  open  you  will  close  a  grogshop  ;  and  this 
is  a  consideratiou  worth  entertaining.  The  cost  would  be  very  trifling,  and  would 
be  amply  compeiisated  by  the  good  whicli  would  accrue  from  the  establishment  of 
such  conveniences.  Let  us  persevere,  then,  until  we  compel  the  authorities  to 
give  ixs  public  fountains  such  as  other  cities  possess. 

From  The  Times,  3Iay  18." 

Public  Drinking  Fountains. — We  have  already  expressed  a  cordial  approval  of 
the  proposition  before  the  Common  Council  for  tlie  establishment  of  five  hundred 
Croton  Fountains.  As  a  public  necessity,  there  should  be  no  hesitation  or  delay  in 
building  them.  Nearly  six  months  ago,  in  a  condensed  notice  of  a  document  on  the 
"Sunday  Liquor  Trafiic,"  this  measure  was  suggested  as  one  of  the  preventives  of 
drunkenness  ;  and,  on  turning  to  that  document  again,  we  find  that  the  sagacious 
gentlemen  of  the  "Sabbath  Committee"  have  presented  the  argument  for  this  im- 
provement in  a  nut-shell. 

From  The  Times,  Jkme  2. 

"Drink  and  Awat." — One  of  the  most  beautiful  fountains  in  Barbary,  on  account 
of  its  frequent  use  and  the  lurking  of  assassins  in  its  neighborhood,  is  called  Shrub 
we  Krvb — Drink  and  away.  In  our  highly-civilized  city  we  have  no  such  lurking- 
place  for  robbers.  No  Croton  fountain  tempts  to  drink  or  danger  here.  Superior 
refinement  has  compelled  the  thirsty  to  resort  to  the  dram-shop,  where  fuel  may  be 
added  to  the  flame,  but  where  nature's  provision  for  quenching  thirst  can  only  be 
made  available  by  quenching  manly  self-respect  too. 

What  shall  the  wayfarer  ia  our  streets  do  of  a  Sunday  when  even  this  dernier  resort 
is  lost,  as  it  seems  likely  to  be  if  the  Police  Commissioners  do  their  duty,  and  shut 
up  the  illegal  places  of  Sunday  traffic?  Croton  drinking  fountains,  and  a  plenty  of 
them,  would  seem  to  be  the  necessary  complement  of  the  suppression  of  Sunday 
dramming.  And  when  the  fountains  of  dissipation  and  crime  are  stayed,  and  gush- 
waters,  which  cheer  but  not  inebriate,  take  their  place  in  our  streets,  we  may  reverse 
the  Barbary  fountain  motto,  so  that  it  shall  be:  Kruh  we  Shrub — Away  and  Drink. 


AN  EXPERIMENT   OF   50  DRINiaNG  FOUNTAINS. 

From  The  Tijmes,  Jime  25. 

The  report  of  the  Special  Committee  in  favor  of  directing  the  Croton  Board  to 
erect ßftij  drinking  Icydrants  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  was  adopted  last  evening; 
Councilman  Bulteel  ["Oyster  Saloon"]  alone  voting  in  the  negative. 

From  the  same.,  July  7. 

Drinking  Hydrants. — The  Board  of  Aldermen  concurred  with  the  Board  of  Coun- 
cilmen  in  adopting  the  report  of  the  Special  Committee  in  favor  of  erccting^ty 
hydrants  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TKAFFIC.  83  ■ 

A  German's  Appeal  to  the  Germans 

ON 

THE  SUNDAY  QUESTION. 


[An  important  Document  of  24  pages,  8vo.,  has  been  issued  by 
the  New  York  Sabbath  Committee,  in  the  German  language.  It 
contains  the  "Memorial  as  to  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,"  with  the 
official  data  forming  its  basis;  a  Digest  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Laws; 
a  translation  of  the  Editorial  articles  in  the  leading  New  York  Dai- 
lies— the  Joxtrnal  of  Commerce,  June  5th  and  11th,  Express,  May 
21,  The  Times,  June  1,  Comtnercial  and  Enquirer,  May  31,  etc.,  (see 
"Memorial  Memoranda"  pages  16-30:)  and  the  Editorials  of  the 
Staats  Zeitung  and  the  Demokrat  in  opposition  to  the  Memorial. 
As  introductory  to  this  matter,  a  kind  and  able  discussion  of  the 
Sunday  question,  by  a  German  writer  of  unusual  power,  is  published, 
which  may  be  hoped  to  dispel  many  prejudices  and  to  conciliate  the 
better  disposed  among  our  German  fellow  citizens  toward  American 
and  Biblical  views  of  the  claims  and  uses  of  the  Christian  Sabbath. 
A  translation  of  this  appeal  is  here  given,  partly  because  of  its  in- 
trinsic interest,  and  for  the  sake  of  informing  those  who  do  not  read 
the  German,  of  the  mode  adopted  by  the  committee  in  dealing  with 
an  important  class  of  our  foreign  born  population.  It  is  intended 
to  give  the  widest  possible  circulation  to  this  document  among  the 
Germans  in  this  city  and  country,  and  in  the  father-land.] 

The  aim  of  the  Memorial— signed  by  more  than  400  Germans  and  600  Ameri- 
cans, and  presented  to  the  Police  Commissioners  May  28 — having  been  frequently 
misinterpreted,  it  seems  desirable,  on  its  republication,  briefly  to  explain  its 
design. 

The  Memorial  does  not  aim  at  making  men  pious  by  compulsory  measures. 
The  Memorialists  know  quite  well  that  such  a  kind  of  piety  would  be  displeasing 
to  God,  and  that  all  endeavors  of  the  sort  are  even  more  repugnant  to  the  spirit  of 
Christianity  than  to  the  spirit  of  the  age. 

Nor  does  the  Memorial  intend  to  compel  men  to  do  this  or  that  on  Sunday. 
Whether  one  prefers  to  stay  at  home,  or  to  go  into  the  free  air  ;  to  spend  the  day 
in  solitude  or  at  church,  in  conversation  or  in  reading,  is  to  be  left  with  him,  so 
far  as  civil  laws  are  concerned. 

Nor  is  it  the  intent  of  the  Memorial  to  coerce  the  Germans  to  renounce  their 
national  sentiments  and  customs.  The  fact  that  several  hundred  Germans  have 
2 


34  THE   SUNDAY  LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

signed  it — and  many  more  signatures  might  have  been  obtained  had  more  time 
been  used — is  sufficient  guarantee  of  this. 

Nor  does  the  Memorial  propose  new  legislation.  It  only  aims  at  the  enforce- 
ment of  existing  laws.  To  have  a  law  remain  a  dead  letter  is  in  itself  wrong  and 
injurious,  especially  in  a  free  land,  where  the  laws  are  made  by  the  people,  and 
should  therefore  be  obeyed  by  the  people — the  minority  submitting  to  the 
majority. 

The  Memorial  opposes  the  existence  of  monopolies  and  privileged  classes  of 
society.  It  goes  for  equal  rights.  In  order  that  factory-laborers,  clerks,  ap- 
prentices, etc.  may  have  a  day  of  rest,  the  factory-owners,  merchants,  employers, 
etc.  must  be  compelled — if  this  be  compulsion  to  them — to  close  their  factories, 
stores  and  shops  on  Sunday.  If  ten  merchants  out  of  a  hundred  were  to  keep 
open  their  stores  on  Sunday,  one  and  another  by  the  power  of  competition  would 
be  tempted  to  open  their  stores  too.  Therefore  to  secure  a  day  of  rest  to  the 
ninety,  all  Sunday  traffic  must  be  prohibited  to  the  ten.  Partial  restrictions  im- 
posed oh  the  rights  of  some  men,  in  order  to  increase  and  guarantee  the  rights  of 
all  men,  is  a  sound  democratic  principle.  But  how  does  it  agree  with  this  princi- 
ple to  have  stores  closed  on  Sunday,  while  liquor  shops  remain  open  ?  No  cloth, 
coffee  or  tea  must  be  sold,  but  you  may  sell  as  much  whiskey,  beer  and  wine  as  you 
please !  The  honest  merchant  may  not  make  money  on  that  day,  but  the  rum- 
seller  may !  Is  this  right  ?  Certainly  not.  In  a  free  country,  under  a  consti- 
tutional government,  all  men  must  be  treated  alike. 

And  what  special  claim  have  intoxicating  liquors  to  be  exempted  from  the 
prohibition  of  ?ales  on  Sunday  ?  Do  they  promote  domestic  happiness,  increase 
virtue,  engender  philanthropy,  nourish  patriotism  ?  We  have  seen  no  proofs  of 
it.  But  it  is  plain  enough  that  many  a  father  on  Sunday  converts  the  money 
which  should  buy  bread  for  his  children  during  the  week  into  liquor  ;  that  many  a 
son  then  consumes  the  means  of  supporting  his  parents,  and  many  a  husband 
returns  home  on  Sunday  night  drunken,  abusing  his  wife,  or  at  least  unfitted  for 
his  work  and  for  a  proper  treatment  of  his  family.  As  for  the  influence  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors  on  patriotism  and  love  of  freedom,  we  will  only  mention  that 
Frederic  Hecker,  when  he  returned  to  this  country  in  1849,  after  the  failure  of 
the  revolutionary  movements  in  Germany,  publicly  ascribed  that  failure  to  the 
fact  that  the  Germans  had  rather  talked  and  boasted  of  their  prospective  freedom 
over  the  beer-glass  than  labored  and  acted  for  it. 

Still,  "  Drinking  on  Sunday  is  a  German  custom,  so  we  won't  have  it  taken 
from  us !"  is  the  cry.  It  is  a  German  vice  [mis-custom]  we  answer.  Boxing 
and  horse-racing  are  English  vices  ;  carnival  with  its  follies  is  an  Italian  vice  ; 
bull-baiting  is  a  Spanish  vice  :  but  what  sensible  Englishman,  Italian  or  Spaniard 
would  undertake  publicly  to  stand  up  for  these  vices,  to  which  a  portion  of  his 
countrymen  is  addicted  ?  Still  less  would  he  dare  to  undertake  the  introduction  of 
them  into  another  country.  The  same  rule  applies  to  German  Sunday  amuse- 
ments, to  which  in  many  [iiot  in  all]  places  in  Germany  a  large  proportion  of  the 
inhabitants  are  given  ;  but  under  constant  protest  of  our  best  men,  and  constant 
attempts  at  restraint  by  laws — the  latter  being  found  rather  in  the  partially  free 
States  of  Germany  than  in  the  others. 

The  opponents  of  the  Memorial  are  talking  and  behaving  as  though  Sabbath 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUO»  TRAFFIC.  35 

legislation  proceeded  only  from  "  Puritanism."  But  we  need  only  to  appeal  to 
the  better  knowledge  of  the  well-informed  among  them.  We  ask,  for  instance,  of 
the  editor  of  the  Stoats  Zeitung,  Do  you  not  know  well  enough,  from  German 
history,  that  at  different  times,  and  in  different  parts  of  Germany,  stringent  laws 
against  drinking  and  dancing  on  Sunday  have  been  enacted  :  not  by  the  moi'e  des- 
potic princes,  but  rather  by  those  who  really  cared  for  the  welfare  of  their  people  ? 
True,  in  modern  times,  Sabbath  legislation  in  Germany  has  become  more  lax,  but 
this  has  been  owing  to  the  influx  of  infidelity,  which,  coming  from  France,  over- 
threw both  the  former  obserrance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the  ancient  honesty  and 
fidelity  of  the  German  nation. 

But,  supposing  Sabbath  laws  to  be  something  specifically  American,  even  then 
there  would  be  just  cause  to  ask  :  Is  it  well  for  the  Germans  of  this  country  to 
oppose  an  institution  which  has  existed  here  frojn  the  first  beginning  of  European 
settlements  on  this  continent,  and  has  since  then  taken  such  deep  root  in  the 
whole  social  and  political  life  of  this  nation  ?  Would  this  not  be  an  abuse  of  the 
hospitable  welcome  and  reception  which  this  country  extended  to  us  ?  Would  it 
not  provoke  the  ill-will  and  suspicion  of  the  English-speaking,  native-born  citi- 
zens ?  On  questions  respecting  which  one  party  of  Americans  stands  against  the 
other,  we  may  decide  for  either  of  them  ;  but  in  a  question  concerning  which  nearly 
the  whole  American  people  stand  together  as  one  man,  to  oppose  them  as  a  German 
party,  will  certainly  not  prove  the  means  of  promoting  kind  relations  between 
foreign  and  native-born  citizens.  It  would,  to  say  the  least,  be  quite  hazardous 
to  undertake  such  a  thing,  and  to  be  justified  in  the  undertaking,  we  should  be 
manifestly  in  the  right.  But  such  is  not  the  case,  neither  in  a  political  nor  in  a 
moral  point  of  view,  as  we  will  now  show. 

CIVIL   ASPECTS    OF   THE    QUESTION. 

In  the  days  of  the  first  Dutch  colony  of  "  New  Amsterdam,"  as  early  as  1647-8, 
Peter  Stuyvesant,  Director-General,  issued  proclamations  and  decrees  against  the 
invasion  of  "  the  Lord's  Day  of  rest."  One  of  the  earliest  acts  of  the  "  General 
Assembly  of  the  [English]  colony  of  New  York,"  in  1695,  was  one  entitled,  "An 
Act  against  the  Prophanation  of  the  Lord's  Day,  called  Sunday."  In  1813  the 
Legislature  of  this  State  passed  laws  protecting  the  Sabbath,  based  on  the 
colonial  act  of  1695  ;  and  they  remain  in  the  Revised  Statutes.  The  Metropolitan 
Police  Act  prohibits  the  sale  of  any  intoxicating  liquors  on  Sunday,  under  a 
penalty  of  $50.  These  are  State  laws.  During  forty  years,  from  1797  to  1834, 
concurrent  municipal  ordinances  were  enacted,  of  a  stringent  character.  They 
were  revised  and  reenacted  in  1803,  '5,  '7,  '12,  '17,  '21,  '23,  and  '27. 

It  is  clear,  from  the  above,  that  the  fifth  section  of  the  Metropolitan  Police 
Act,  which  is  so  much  hated  by  our  opponents,  contains  nothing  new,  but  only 
old  regulations.  That  these  regulations  are  supported  by  the  public  opinion  and 
general  custom  of  the  American  people,  shall  be  proved  by  two  facts.  One  is, 
that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  demands  that  the  President  shall  be 
inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March ;  but  it  is  understood  that  when  the  4th  of 
March  falls  upon  Sunday,  the  inauguration  takes  place  on  the  5th  of  March. 
The  other  fact  is,  that  our  great  national  holiday,  the  anniversary  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  in  case  July  4th  falls  on  Sunday,  is  kept  on  the  5th.  Thus, 
both  the  law  and  the  custom  of  our  country  treat  Sunday  as  a  day  set  apart  for 


36  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

religious  jDurposes,  but  not  as  a  day  for  national  or  other  festivals  and  pleasures. 
We  adopted  citizens  ought,  therefore,  even  if  Sunday  pleasures  were  not  morally 
wrong,  to  avoid  them,  because  they  are,  in  this  country,  unlawful,  and  from  con- 
siderations due  to  our  fellow-citizens. 

MORAL    ASPECTS    OF    THE    QUESTION. 

We  will  now  inquire,  from  a  moral  stand  point,  whether  Sunday  pleasures  are 
right  and  allowable.  And  we  would  first  ask  our  oi)poneuts.  Can  you  deny  that 
Christianity  has  favored  civilization  wherever  it  has  penetrated  ?  Can  you  name 
any  civilized  nation  which  is  not  a  Christian  nation  ?  And  we  ask  further,  Is  not  - 
the  Bible  read — which  is  the  foundation  of  Christianity — in  all  countries  in  which 
a  free  government  exists  and  prospers  ?  Or  can  you  name  countries  which  are 
free  without  the  Bible  ?  From  all  we  know,  notwithstanding  all  the  deficiencies 
found  among  us,  things  are  "  golden"  among  us  compared  to  our  neighboring 
sister  republic  Mexico,  with  her  endless  civil  wars  and  anarchy.  What  is  the 
cause  of  this  great  difference  ?  The  people  of  the  United  States  have  the  Bible — 
the  people  of  Mexico  have  it  not.  If  we  look  at  Europe,  we  see  England,  Scot- 
land,  the  Netherlands,  Switzerland,  Prussia,  and  Norway,  comparatively  free  and 
prosperous ;  but  Russia,  Austria,  and  Spain,  are  oppressed  and  unhappy.  And 
why  ?  In  the  first  named  countries  the  Bible  is  read,  while  in  the  last  named  it 
is  not. 

Law  and  morals  must  always  go  hand  in  hand.  The  best  laws  are  of  no  use 
where  the  morals  are  bad.  But  how  can  men  agree  on  morals  if  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments are  not  taken  as  their  foundation  ?  Were  we  to  take  our  morals  from 
Lycnrgus  and  Solon,  from  Numa  and  Cicero,  from  Confucius  and  Mohammed, 
or  from  Voltaire  and  Rousseau,  from  Fichte  and  Hegel, — into  what  confusion 
should  we  get.  No  agreement  can  be  expected.  But  the  Ten  Commandments 
are  so  generally  acknowledged, — are  considered  pure,  true,  and  obligatory,  by  so 
great  a  majority, — that  we  have  in  them  a  firm  centre  of  agreement.  Now,  one 
of  the  Ten  Commandments  says  :  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy. 
Six  days  thou  shalt  labor,  and  do  all  thy  work,  but  the  seventh  is  the  Sabbath  of 
the  Lord  thy  God  :  in  it  thou  shalt  do  no  work,"  &c.  If  we  lay  aside  this  one 
commandment,  all  the  others  go  with  it ;  and  where  are  we  then  ? 

Again  :  Where  but  in  the  moral  law  of  Christ  and  his  apostles  do  we  find  so 
beautiful  and  clear  an  exposition  of  the  spirit  and  sense  in  which  we  are  to  fulfil 
our  moral  duties  ?  "As  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  also  to  them, 
likewise."  "  Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with  good."  "Avenge 
not  yourselves."  "  Give  to  every  one  his  due."  If  such  sayings  are  no  longer 
publicly  acknowledged,  what  is  to  become  of  the  world?  If  Christianity,  with 
its  command  of  love  to  the  neighbor,  is  set  aside  in  any  land,  a  total  disorganiza- 
tion of  all  relations,  a  civil  war,  must  follow.  The  first  French  Revolution,  with 
4ts  Reign  of  Terror,  furnishes  an  examj^le.  Men  are  bad  enough  with  their  belief 
in  the  Bible  ;  if  they  are  deprived  of  this  belief  they  become  totally  bad.  This 
is  the  dry  but  fitting  saying  of  Franklin,  with  which  he  answered  Tom  Paine 
when  he  sent  him  his  "Age  of  Reason." 

Without  Christianity,  we  repeat  it,  no  popular  freedom  can  consist.  Now, 
Christianity,  although  it  is  something  spiritual,  by  several  forms  and  regulations 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  37 

peculiar  to  itself,  is  interwoven  with  civil  life.  Among  these  regulations  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  the  day  of  the  Lord,  the  day  on  which  Christ,  the  founder  of 
the  Christian  religion,  rose  from  the  dead  and  from  the  grave,  stands  foremost. 
What  did  the  ancient  Romans  and  Greeks,  what  do  the  Hindoos  and  Chinese 
know  of  a  Sunday  ?  They  know  nothing  of  it.  And  we,  too,  should  know  noth- 
ing of  it  had  not  Christianity  come  to  us  from  our  fathers,  and  with  it  the  news  of 
the  resurrection  of  Christ  through  its  weekly  returning  memorial  day.  The  Sun- 
day is  therefore  a  Christian  Institution,  and  it  is  hence  a  moral  wrong  to  employ 
this  Institution  contrary  to  its  spirit,  for  strange  and  unchristian  objects.  Sup- 
pose a  company  of  trifling  boys  were  to  make  one  of  their  number  pronounce  the 
words  of  the  Institution  of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  one  of  their  carousals,  and  then 
take  a  drink  and  say,  "  We  have  now  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper,"  would  not 
the  feeling  of  every  upright  man,  no  matter  what  his  religious  views  are,  be  out- 
raged ?  Would  we  not  say  to  them,  "  Carouse,  if  you  are  determined  to  carouse, 
but  let  the  Christian  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  alone !"  And  as  the 
Lord's  Supper  is  the  memorial  of  the  Sacrificial  death  of  Christ,  and  is  to  be  cele- 
brated as  such  only,  or  not  at  all,  as  every  sensible  man  allows  ;  so  Sunday  is  the 
memorial  day  of  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  is  to  be  celebrated  by  all  in 
a  serious  and  quiet  manner,  although  by  each  one  according  to  his  own  particular 
religious  conviction.  Whoever  desires  pleasure  and  amusement  may  select  any 
one  of  the  other  six  days,  but  let  him  celebrate  the  Sunday  in  a  Christian  manner, 
for  the  object  for  which  it  is  instituted. 

American  history  shows  plainly  that  the  founders  of  the  first  European  Colony 
in  this  country  came  for  the  sole  purpose  of  worshipping  GOD  according  to  the 
dictates  of  their  conscience.  Their  numerous  descendants,  therefore,  will  not  per- 
mit themselves  to  be  deprived  of  this  great  privilege,  neither  by  fanatical  perse- 
cutors nor  by  infidel  traitors.  Among  us  Germans,  also,  many  have  come  here 
because  they  knew  that  here  religion  and  the  worship  of  GOD  are  not  only  tole- 
rated by  the  State,  but  publicly  acknowledged  and  legally  protected.  There  are 
also  those  among  us  who  formerly  did  not  value  this,  but  since  their  sojourn  in 
this  country  have  learnt  to  value  it.  Both  these  classes  of  Germans  are  unwilling 
to  forego  the  right  of  a  free,  public  and  undisturbed  worship  of  GOD.  It  is  in 
their  own  interest,  in  that  of  their  children,  in  that  of  their  German  countrymen, 
and  in  the  interest  of  the  whole  people,  that  they  unite  with  their  fellow-citizens 
in  removing  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  disturbance  of  the  worship  of 
GOD  by  public  amusements.  Our  opponents  may  well  look  at  what  they  are  do- 
ing. Should  they  succeed  in  defeating  our  object,  it  would,  in  our  opinion,  be 
the  greatest  injury  to  themselves.  But  whoever  is  not  of  this  opinion,  let  him  at 
least  consider  and  understand  that  the  right  is  on  the  side  of  those  who  desire  a 
quiet  Sabbath,  on  which  business  as  well  as  amusement  is  to  be  at  rest ;  and  that 
the  laws  of  our  land  are  not  made  for  promoting  infidelity  and  dissipation,  already 
sufiBciently  rank  everywhere,  but  for  promoting  morality  and  religion. 

IMPORTANT  RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  POLICE  COMMISSIONERS. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Police  Board,  July  8,  Mr.  Stillman  presiding, 
and  all  the  members  of  the  Board  present.  Judge  UlshoefiFer,  on  behalf  of  the 


88  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR   TRAFFIC. 

Committee  on  Laws  and  Ordinances,  submitted  the  following  report,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted  : 

"  The  Committee  on  Laws  and  Ordinances  having  considered  the  petitions  for, 
and  remonstrances  against,  the  enforcement  of  the  existing  laws  relative  to  the 
observance  of  Sunday,  respectfully  offer  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  This  Board  is  bound  by  its  organization  to  enforce  the  laws  as  they  exist  ; 
it  being  a  well-settled  principle  that  the  administrative  departments  cannot  excuse 
enforcing  a  law,  on  the  gruund  of  doubts  as  to  its  conflicting  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Constitution. 

2.  The  Christian  religion  is  that  which  has  always  existed  since  the  settlement 
of  the  country,  and  now  exists  in  these  United  States  ;  recognized  and  professed 
by  the  masses  of  the  people  of  various  religious  denominations,  and  neai-ly  all  of 
which  regard  the  Christian  Sabbath  as  part  of  their  religion. 

3.  That  the  highest  judicial  authorities  regard  the  Christian  religion  as  the 
prevailing  religion  of  the  country,  and  that  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  all 
other  religions  must  still  leave  the  principles,  practices,  and  laws  of  the  whole 
Christian  community  paramount,  and  in  full  force. 

4.  That  the  true  principles  of  religious  liberty  do  not  allow  the  smallest  por- 
tions of  the  community  to  call  upon  the  great  masses  of  the  people  to  abandon 
the  enforcement  of  those  Sunday  laws,  which  have  existed  since  the  settlement  of 
the  country. 

5.  That  present  abuses  in  disregarding  the  Sunday  laws,  particularly  in  public 
exhibitions  on  Sundays,  and  trafficking  in  liquors  and  other  like  things,  should,  as 
far  as  the  law  allows,  be  prevented  by  the  whole  power  of  the  police  force  and  of 
the  magistracy. 

6.  That  the  laws  of  the  land,  in  conformity  witli  the  opinion  of  the  masses  of 
the  people,  in  regard  to  moral  principles  and  practices,  and  for  the  punishment  of 
transgressors  any  day  of  the  week,  are  not  to  be  disregarded  or  repealed,  because 
of  peculiar  notions  of  morals  entertained  by  small  portions  of  the  community." 

THE  "REMONSTRANCE"  AND    "  COUNTER-MEMORIAL." 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  July  9. 

Attempt  to  "Sell"  tue  Police  Boaud. — A  great  parade  was  made  last  week  by 
the  Sunday  Liquor  party,  who  bored  tlie  Police  (commissioners  an  hour  or  so  with 
their '"  Remonstrance"  and  "  Counter-Meniorial,"  ostensibly  "signed  by  about 
five  hundred  citizens," — a  German  copy  being  ,,  signed  by  nearly  a  tbousaiid  citi- 
zens of  German  birth."  In  both  cases  tiic  remunstraiits  claim  to  be  "voters." 
The  special  object  of  the  demonstration  was  to  prevent  tiie  police  authorities  from 
closing  tlie  Sunday  dram  shops. 

Unfortunately  for  tiie  credit  of  the  Remonstrance,  the  signers  appended  their 
places  of  abode  iu  coioniou  with  their  nauics — making  it  an  easy  matter  to  classify 
the  list,  and  to  expose  its  l)ogus character.  This  being  carefully  done,  the  folIoAving 
results  are  reached  : 

Number  of  names  claimed  for  the  Sunday  Remonstrance  in  English 500 

Actual  number 446 

Error 54 

Number  of  names  claimed  for  the  Sunday  Remonstrance  in  German 1.000 

Actual  number 742 

Error 258 


THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC.  39 

Classification  of  the  446  Remotislranfs — English. 

Non-Eesidents 118 

Liquor-Dealers,  Segai'-Sellers,  Sunday  Newspaper  Editors,  and  otlaer  inter- 
ested parties 38 

Not  to  be  found  in  the  Directory 241 

"Clerks,"   "Shoes,"   "  Physicians,"  &c 49 

Total 446 

Classification  of  the  first  500  Remotid rants — German. 

Non-Residents 104 

Lager  and  Liquor  Dealers  ....    , 36 

Not  to  be  found  in  the  Directory 1 80 

All  others 180 

Total  examined 500 

Thus  it  appears  that  an  abatement  of  more  than  three-four  tins  must  be  made  from 
this  list  of  about  a  thousand  names,  to  bring  it  within  the  range  of  decency  or  pro- 
priety, as  a  matter  of  official  cousideratiou.  What  consideration  should  be  given 
to  the  remaining  fourth  might  be  determined  by  continuing  the  investigation. 

From  the  Teibune,  July  4. 

We  have  elsewhere  noticed  the  fact  that  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Hatch,  and  a"number  of 
other  gentlemen  equally  gifted  with  himself,  yesterday  waited  on  the  Police  Com- 
missioners and  delivered  a  long  and  elaborate  address,  beseeching  the  Commissioners 
not  to  enforce  the  Sunday  laws,  and  especially  the  law  against  the  sale  of  liquor  on 
Sunday.  To  say  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Hatch  and  his  associates  are  all  fools,  is  more  than 
we  dare  do  ;  but  they  certainly  talked  like  egregious  fools  yesterday.  The  Police 
Commissioners  have  no  choice  between  enforcing  the  law  and  not  enforcing  it. 
They  are  not  legislators,  but  simply  executive  officers.  AVhether  the  laws  are  good 
or  bad,  is  not  a  question  for  their  consideration.  Their  duty  is  simply  to  have  them 
observed  and  obeyed  ;  and  all  the  rest  belongs  to  the  Legislature  and  the  Courts. 

It  is  not  an  argument  to  say  that  certain  laws  have  not  been  regarded  hitherto, 
and  that  the  Police  ought  therefore  to  connive  at  the  breaking  of  them  hence- 
forth forever.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  us  rather  an  insult  to  the  Commissioners  than 
otherwise  ;  and  Mr.  Hatch  and  his  fellow-laborers  in  the  cause  of  free  liquor  on 
Sundays  might  without  impropriety  have  been  kicked  out  of  doors  accordingly. 

A  SABBATH  AGAIN. 

From  The  Express,  Jdy  4. 

It  is  estimated  that  for  the  last  three  Sundays  or  so  only  about  one-tenth  of  the 
liq\ior-dealers  have  kept  open — something  very  remarkable  for  this  city.  Of  these 
violators  of  the  law,  the  majority  have  only  kept  private  entrances  open  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  their  customers.  Taken  together,  these  few  Sundays  past  have 
been  the  most  orderly  known  in  New  York  for  a  very  long  time  indeed. 

From  The  Hekald,  July  4. 

Of  the  upper  wards  of  the  city,  commencing  with  the  Fifteenth,  about  the  same 
reports  are  to  be  made  as  in  the  precincts  above.  Each  Sunday  since  the  giving 
out  of  the  police  order  has  shown  marked  improvement.  Citizens  have  enjoyed 
more  quiet  Sabbaths,  and  the  police  magistrates  have  had  but  little  to  do.  At  the 
Tombs  yesterday,  where  tlie  commitments  on  Sunday  for  drunkenness  are  usually 
sixty  and  seventy,  but  five  were  committed  for  being  drunk.  At  the  other  police 
courts  the  falling  olf  in  the  number  of  Sunday  commitments  for  the  same  offence 
was  about  in  the  same  proportion. 

From  The  Times,  July  11. 

The  Observance  op  the  Sabbath  Laws. — Since  the  Police  Commissioners  adopted 
resolutions,  on  Friday,  which  admitted  their  power  and  intimated  their  intention 
of  enforcing  the  Sunday  laws,  naturally  enough  an  impression  became  general  that 
decisive  and  peremptory  orders  would  be  issued  to  the  Police  henceforth  to  assert 
the  law's  supremacy.  And  this  opinion  prevailed  to  such  an  extent  even,  that  the 
hitherto  obstreperous  saloon-keepers,  who,  in  spite  of  repeated  notifications,  have 


40  THE   SUNDAY   LIQUOR  TRAFFIC. 

insisted  in  selling  on  the  Sabbath  in  defiance  of  law,  became  generally  alarmed  at 
the  anticipated  demonstration,  and  many  vohintarily  closed  their  places  yesterday, 
believing  that  otherwise  they  would  be  forced  to  close.  Contrary  to  general  antic- 
ipation, however,  no  new  orders  were  issueil.  Throughout  the  city,  even  in  those 
portions  where  hitherto  liquor  has  flowed  freely,  scarcely  a  drop  could  be  had  for 
"love  or  money,"  and  when  it  was  obtained  it  was  only  dispensed  to  those  in 
whom  the  vendor  felt  he  could  place  confidence.  The  effect  of  the  closed  stores,  of 
course,  was  another  quiet  Sabbath,  which,  contrasted  with  those  of  four  weeks  ago,  at  once  shows 
the  good  result  of  even  the  partial  attempt  of  stopping  the  sale  of  liquor.  Nowhere  was 
the  effect  more  marked  than  at  the  various  Toiice  Courts,  where  heretofore  the 
Sunday  committals  for  drunkenness  have  numbered  as  high  as  from  20  to  30  in 
each  court,  while  yesterday  they  scarcely  exceeded  a  dozen  throughout  the  city. 
General-Superintendent  Pilsbury,  accompanied  by  Deputy  Carpenter,  visited  a 
large  portion  of  the  city,  including  Yorkville,  Harlem  and  Blooniingdale,  yester- 
day, in  a  carriage,  to  notice  how  the  Sunday  laws  were  observed  ;  and  it  is  under- 
stood he  will  familiarize  himself  with  what  is  done,  and  how  far  the  laws  are  trans- 
gressed, before  he  takes  any  effective  action. 

From  The  Herald,  July  10. 

o  «  s;-  "  III  the  Sixth  Ward  onlj'  two  men  were  arrested  for  drunkenness,  a  fact 
unparalleled  since  to  this  Ward  was  applied  the  prefix  "  bloody."  In  the  Seventh, 
Eighth,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  and  Thirteenth  Wards,  but  few  places  aside  from 
the  lager  beer  saloons  were  open.  "  '■•'  A  marked  change  over  any  previous  Sunday 
was  evident  in  the  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth  Wards.  Here  scarcely  a  liquor 
shop  was  open,  and  where  half  a  dozen  fights  are  usually  reported  on  Sunday  not 
one  occurred  yesterday.  In  all  the  upper  Wards  of  the  City  the  observance  was 
very  general.  The  majority  of  the  liquor  stores  were  completely  closed.  But  few 
arrests  were  made  for  drunkenness.'' 


^^^  A  circular  has  been  issued  by  the  managers  of  the  '•  Liquor  Dealers'  Asso- 
ciation" to  more  than  four  thousand  members,  advising  them  to  close  their  shops  on 
Sunday,  without  resistance. 

ß^"  The  lager  beer  dealers  and  brewers  met  on  Friday  evening,  July  8th,  to 
denounce  the  Liquor  Dealers'  Association,  vvith  which  they  had  "  become  disgusted, 
because  they  would  only  protect  the  'rum-sellers,'  and  had  no  regard  for  the  lager 
beer  interest,"  and  to  form  "  an  Association  of  Lager  Beer  Dealers.'' 


The  Excise  Commissioners  have  requested  the  General  Superintendent  of 
Police  to  report  to  them  all  lager  beer  saloons  at  which  spirituous  liquors  are  sold. 
"An  eminent  physician  of  this  city  had  informed  Mr.  Commissioner  Holmes  that  he 
had  recently  attended  a  man  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  who  had  drank  nothing 
but  lager  beer,  and  was  severely  affected  with  delirium  tremens.  He  said  the  man 
had  it  so  badly  that  the  ])hysicians  never  before  saw  a  man  recover  who  was  so 
severely  affected.  Mr.  Holmes  believed  that  lager  beer  was  a  spirituous  liquor,  and 
he  was  convinced  that  it  was  used  as  a  mere  cover  for  the  selling  other  and  more 
deleterious  liquors  without  licenses.' — Com.  and  Enq.,  July  7. 


ß^^  Office  of  New  York  Sabbath  Committee,  No.  21  Bible  House.  "^ 
W  Treasurer's  Office,  (J.  M.  Morrison,  Treasurer,)  Manhattan  Bank. 


Doc.  No.  8. 

e  1 1 1 1 0 11 


Joiber  ben 


©Dinitaoöljaiikl  mit  fieröufi^enkn  ©etröiifciu 


t^^  ^tllü^eUi 


L  35ortoort 

2.  2)ic  petition. 

3.  djrimblagc  bcr  ^ktition,    5luöf^rü(|c  ber  (i)raiii)=3«i'^» 

4.  ®cfc$c  imb  SBerorbiiuiißcn  in  33ctrcff  bc^  Sountag^^aubelö 

mit  Bcrauf^eubeii  (^cträiifciu 

5.  ^u^jügc  au^  bell  yfeto=?)orfci'  ^cüungciu 


herausgegeben  »on  ber  fflc)^f^oxUx  ©abbatl^sSommittee. 


H.  Ludwig,  Buchdrucker,  39  Centre-Str.,  N.-T. 


SBür  to  or  t. 

^te  nacf)|ic]^enbc  petition,  »on  400  !l)cutf^cn  unUx^tiä^nü, 
warb,  nebft  einer,  eben  ba[fe(bc  entl)a(tcnben  petition  in  eng(ifd)er 
©prad)c,  am  27.  9J?at  b.  3.  ber  betreffenben  obri9feit(id)cn  ©c()5rbe 
übcrreicl)t.  !l)ie[er  Sdjritt  Ijcit,  wit  jum  23oraug  ju  crumrtcn  nmr,  eine 
nid;t  geringe  S3eivegung  l)ervorgerufen.  SSict  ift  für  unb  wibcr  bk  ^^a 
tition  gerebet  imb  gefd)rteben,  Ie|tere§  fowpl)(  in  eng(i)"ri;en  al§  in  beuts 
fd)en  3eitnngcn.  't)abti  [inb  benn  fo  üiele  93Zi§beutnngcn  unb  unrid)tige 
Sluffaffungen  beg  Sinned  unb  3^^^^^^^  ^'^^  ^^ctition  mit  untergelaufen, 
ba^  c§  bienlid)  crfd^eint,  hci  gegenwärtigem  SBieberabbruff  berfetbcn  in 
Äürje  barj^utegen,  \va§  fie  tviU  unb  wai  fte  nid)t  will.  2ßir  beginnen 
mit  Sc^term. 

!Die  ^^etition  get)t  nid}t  barauf  aug,  bit  9)?enfd)en  öoit  au^en 
Therein,  burd)  ßwangi^ma^rcgein  unb  aufgenetf)igte  @eircl)nl)eiten  fromm 
3U  mad;cn.  2)ie  fte  t»erfa^t  unb  unterjcid)net  l)aben,  wiffen  fel)r  wol)I, 
ba^  @ctt  an  erjwungener  grommigfeit  fein  2öol)[gefatIcn,  fonbern  3)iitjs 
fallen  t)at,  unb  ba^  alle  barauf  abjiclenben  33eftrebungen  bem  ®eifte  bd 
St)riftentl)uml  nod)  yiel  mel)r,  alg  bem  ©eifte  bcr  3cit,  juwibcr  fmb. 

3nfonberI)eit  beabftd)tigt  bit  ^^etition  nid)t,  bie  Seute  ju  nötl)igen, 
ba'^  fie  am  (Sonntag  bieg  ober  feneg  tl)un  unb  i»ornel)men  follen.  Db 
3emanb  bal;eim  ftfeen  ober  in'g  g-reie  t)inau§gct)n,  ob  er  in  ber  (Sinfam* 
feit,  ober  in  ber  ilird)e,  ober  mil  ©efprdd)  unb  Unterl)altung  btn  ©onn; 
tag  jubringcn  will,  mu^  3ebem  fclbft  iiberlaffcn  bleiben;  bem  burgers 
lidjtn  ©efet^  liegen  alle  SSeftimmungen  l)icrübcr  fern. 

(Sbenfo  wenig  will  bit  ^setition  bit  3}eutfd)en  nötl^igen,  it^rer  Dolfg* 
tl)nmtid)en  3)enfireife  unb  Sitte  ju  entfagen.  9J(el)rcre  l;unbert  Teiitfdjc 
l)abcn  ftc  unterjeid;net,  unb  nod)  weit  mel)r  Unterfd)riftcn  waren  ju  erlangen 
gcwefen,  wenn  man  fid)  mcl)r  3cit  genommen  f)atte.  (£d)on  l)icrin  liegt 
®cwaf)r  genug,  ba§  fein  Eingriff  gegen  ba§  ®eutfd)tl)um  I)ier  ftattftnbet 

9^ein,  bieg  SUleg  wollen  wir  nid)t.  2Bir  gcl)n  überl)auvt  nid)t  barauf 
aug,  neue,  bigger  nid)t  bagewefene  ©efel^e  unb  (Sinrid)tungen  einjufül^s 
reu.  9Bir  wollen  blo^,  ba^  bit  bercitg  l^orl)anbnen  unb  ju  9ied)t  bes 
fteljenben  ©efe^e  in  5(ugfül)rung  gebrad)t  werben.  SBenn  ein  ®efe^  tin 
trbter  53ud)ftabe  bleibt,  fo  ift  ba§  fd)on  an  ftd)  unrcd)t  unb  fdiablid),  in* 
mal  in  einem  greiftaatc,  wo  baä  SSolf  felbft  burd)  feine  33ertreter  fic^ 


4      !l)er  6onntag§t}anbeI  mit  berau[d)cnben  ©ctranfcu. 

[eine  ÖJcfol^c  (3icbt  iinb  bal)cr  audi  [d)ulbig  ift,  if}ncn  ju  gcT)ord)en.  3ft 
abec  ciu  Ö)c[c()  cincu  9}ciiiberl)cit  bcia  3ic(feg  nid)t  9cncl)m,  jo  mu^  fic  fid), 
ivic  aüöcmciii  jugcftviubcn  iinrb,  bee  93?cl^rl)cit  füöen. 

SBic  uioücii  ferner  nid)t,  ba^  priintegirtc  jtaftcn  ober  bet^oryigtc 
jllaffen  in  bcr  ©c[ca|d)aft  bc[tcl)n.  3ßir  l>i(ten  cl  mit  bcm  (^runb[a^ : 
\m§  bem  (Sincn  rcd)t  ift,  bag  iit  bem  5tnbern  biüig.  2)ag  biirgertid^e 
©efct^  barf  unb  foK  befd){en,  'ba\i  am  (Sonntag  -bcr  g-abrif()err  feine 
g^abrif,  bcr  Kaufmann  feinen  Saben,  ber  ^anbivcrf^mciftcr  feine  SBcrfs 
ftatt  fd)liei?t.  @cfd)iel)t  bieg  nid)t,  fo  l)aben  gabrifarbeiter,  gabenbiener, 
ti^anbiverf»s©efetlcn  unb  Sel)r(inge  feinen  6onntag,  feinen  Zao,  bcr 
9inl)C  unb  (Sil)oUing  mel)r.  ©g  muf?  bal)er  urn  il)rer  5-reil}eit  unUen 
3c neu  ein  ^\i\^nQ  —  infofern  e§  ein  S^^^J^S  fii»^  fie  tt^ciie  —  aufcrfegt 
iverben.  Urn  ein  anbre§  ^eifpief  anjufül)ren:  gefegt,  jcbcr  Äaufmanu 
bürfte,  ivcnn  n  wollte,  feinen  iabm  am  (Sonntag  offen  l)a(ten,  unb  nun 
fänben  fid)  unter  f)unbert  Äaufleuten  jel)n,  bii  bit§  tl)äten,  fo  würbe, 
burd)  bic  9)cad)t  ber  Soncurrenj,  l^on  ben  übrigen  ncunjig  einer  nad;  bem 
anbern  i)erfud;t  werben,  bem  33eifpiel  bcr  jel)n  ju  folgen.  Um  bat)er  ben 
9^eunjig  einen  Diul)etag  ju  fid)ern,  mu^  ben  ^djn  ba§  35  erf  auf  en  am 
(Sonntag  i^erboten  werben.  3;()ci(wcife  33efd)ränfnng  ber  Sefugniffc 
(Einiger,  jum  ^wcd  gröi?erer  3tugbel)nung  unb  (Sid;erung  bcr  9ied)te 
5((lcr,  ift  ein  ad;t  bemofratifd^eg  -^rinjip.  9?un  aber  fra<^en  wir:  ift'g 
red)t,  wenn  ^anfiente  am  Sonntag  ben  2abcn  fd)(iet5en  muffen, 
SBirttje  aber  i()re  (Sd^enfftuben  offen  l)a(ten  bürf<;n'?  3ft'g  rccl)t,  wenn 
am  (Sonntag  fein  Sinnen  unb  !Iud),  fein  Äaffee  unb  X\)cc  tterfauft  wers 
ben  barf,  aber  S3ranntwein,  33ier  unb  SSein  nad)  SScIieben?  wenn  ber 
(Spe^ereiljanbler  fid)  atsbann  nid)t  bereidjern  barf,  ber  (Sd)napp§.l)äubler 
aber  barf  eg?  3ft  ba§  red)t?  2BaI;r{id)  nidvt!  3n  einem  freien  ^anbc, 
in  einem  9kd)tgftaate  mul?  bcr  (Sine  gel)a(ten  werben  wit  ber  ^nbre. 

Unb  wag  für  einen  bcfonbern  Stufprud)  l)atten  benu  grabe  bie  be: 
raufd)enben  ©ctranfe  auf  bic  SSergünftigung,  von  bcm  aUgemcinen  53er; 
bote  beg  6onntaggycrfaufg  auggcnommen  ju  werben?  SBirb  etwa  burd) 
fie  ^^amilienglüd  t>ermel)rt,  S^ugenb  beforbert,  9)?enfd)en{iebe  erzeugt, 
93ater(anbg(icbe  gena()rt?  9Bir  ()abcn  bat^on  nod)  feine  ^4>robcn  gefel)n. 
2)agc3cn  liegt  eg  am  Zac^c,  bat?  mand)er  5?atcr  baß  ©clb,  weld)eg  feinen 
Äinbern  bic  2Bod)e  {)inburd)  33rob  geben  foUte,  am  6onntag  »ertrinft 
imb  fomit  ba§  ©lücf  feiner  g^amilie  jn  ©runbe  ridHct;  bai^  mand)er 
©ol)n  bie  Untcrftül}ung  feiner  alten  Gltern,  bic  bod)  eine  ber  crftcn 
menfd)lid)cn  ^^flid)tcn  ift,  luerüber  lu-rfäumt;  ba^  mand)er  ©atte  am 
(Sonntag  entweber  ganjlid)  trunfen  Ijiimfclut  unb  fein  avmeg  31>eib  mif?* 
T)anbelt,  ober  bod)  ben  Äopf  fo  l^oU  Ijat,  ba^  er  bic  nad)ften  Za^c  jur 


!Der  ©onntag^I^anb'ct  mit  betauf(^.cnben  ©etranfen.      5 

Slrbeit,  \vk  ju  Itebreid)er  S5eTjanbhtng  bet  (Scintgen,  g(etd)  iingefd)icft 
ift.  Uiib  n.md  ben  (ginfliifj  bc5  S^rinfcn«?  auf  9Satcr(anbg;  unb  g-ieil;cttgs 
liebe  betrifft,  fo  fiil)rcii  wit  nur  an,  ba^  griebrid)  ^erfer,  aU  er  im  ^erbfi 
1849  nac^  Stmerifa  jurücffcl)rte,  eine  43«upturfad)e  beg  93?if  (ingeng  ber 
bcutfdjen  greil^eitebcftrcbungcn  in  bcm  Umftanbe  fanb,  ba'^  bk  2)eiit[d)en 
ju  Did  ()inter  ber  Sierbanf  renommirt  unb  ju  if  en  ig  gctl^an,  bit 
greil)cit  beim  ®Ia§  r;od)ieben  (affcn,  aber  nid)tburd;  fräftige  Zl)atm  tn'ig 
Seben  gcfiiljrt  l)atten. 

,/vHber  eing  trinfeuam©onntag,  ift  einmal  cine  beutf  d)e  ©itte, 
bic  laffen  nnr  nng  nid)t  nel^men!"  ruft  man  xm§  entgegen.  (Sine 
bcutfd)e  Unfitte  ift'g!  lautet  unfre  älntwort.  S5o,ren,  6^C[\)mnf 
fampfe,  ^>fcTbe  tobtcnbc  ^sfevbevcnncn  finb  englifdjc  Unfittcn;  ber 
Sarnewal  mit  all'  feinen  3^l)orl)eiteu  ift  eine  italicnifdje  Unftttc. 
2ßcld)er  i^erftanbige  (gngUlnber  unb  Italiener  wirb  für  bicfc  llnfitten 
e  i  n  e  5  2^  l)  e  i  U  feiner  Sanbelcute  cinftel)en  unb  üollenb»  gar  ba$  5ied}t 
beanfprud)cn,  fie  in  einem  anbern  I'anbe  öffenttid)  ju  betreiben? — (Sbcn 
baffelbe  gilt  »on  ben  beutfd^en  (Sonntaggbeluftigungen,  benen  aller; 
bingg  an  »ielen  Drten  2:eutfd)lanbg  —  nid;t  an  alien  —  ein  grower 
^l)eil  ber  (Sinwol^ner  fid)  l)ingiebt,  aber  unter  ftetem  SSibcrfprud)  ber 
33cfferen  unfern  3Solf5  unb  unter  ftetcn  33erfud)en  ber  (S'infri^rmifung 
burd)  ©efeije.  Unb  leljtve,  ba§  ift  wpl)l  ju  bead;ten,  finbct  fid;  mel)r  in 
benjenigen  S anbern  3)eutfd)lanbg,  \vo  eine  tl;eihreife  freie  33crfaffung 
beftel)t,  aUS  in  ben  anbern. 

I^ie  ©egncr  ber  ^;|]0tition  rebcn  unb  gebel)rben  fid)  grabe,  alia  ob 
@efe(^c  jur  Unterbriidung  ber  «Sonntaggarbeit  unb  ber  (Sonntags^'öer; 
gnügungen  bloß  berfenigen  rcligiöfen  ®eifte§rid)tung  angcljörtcn,  bic  man 
$uritani§mug  nennt.  SBir  braud)en  aber  in  biefer  »^pinftd)t  nur  an  ba§ 
bcffere  Stiffen  ber  U''oI)lunterricl)teten  unter  unfern  ©egnern  ^u  appe-iliren. 
QBir  fragen  3.  33.  ben  Svebafteur  ber  „Staat^jeitung":  wiffen  (Sic  nid;t 
red)t  gut  an§  ber  @efd)id)te  2)eutfd)lanbg,  b«^  ^u  r>€rfd)iebnen  ^nkn 
unb  in  t}erfd)iebnen  Zaubern  fd)arfe  ®efe^e  gegen  ^irunf  nub  2'anj  cr; 
laffen  irorbcn  ftnb,  unb  jivar  nid)t  Pon  beispotifd)en,  fonbcrn  pon  fold)en 
gürftcn,  benen  bc[§  2öol)l  il)rer  Untertliancn  am  <g)erjen  lag?  2l?enn  in 
neuerer  ^cit  bie  ©onntagggefc^gebung  in  !Deutfd)lanb  fd^laffcr  gewors 
ben  ift,  fo  ift  bieg  bcm  (Sinfluf  be§,  »on  ?5r«nfrcid)  l)er  cingebrnngnen 
Unglauben^  unb  ©ittenöcrbcrbenä  ju,5ufd)reiben,  iroburd)  jugletdi  bie 
alte  beutfcl)c  (BonntagSfeter  unb  bie  alte  bcutfd)c  (Sl)rlid)feit  unb  3:rcnc 
auf  fo  beflagcnö'.rertl)e  3I?eifc  gefd)mafert  ift. 

2)ocb,  angenommen  and),  (Sonntag§gefe|c  feien  cttvaS  öorjug^s 
UH'ife  ?(merifanifd;cg,  anbern  Säubern  grembcg,  fo  unire  felbft  bann  all«' 


6      2) e r  6 o u n t a g sS I) a ii b e (  mit  b e r a u f d; c n b en  ® c t r ä u f c n. 

lUfad),  jii  fragen:  ift  e»  \vot)(gett)an,  u^cnn  wir  einer,  feit  bcm  crften 
(Sntftcl)n  europaifdicr  ^Injicbclnngen  t)ier  eingebürgerten,  tief  eingeiinirs 
jelten  unb  mit  bem  ganjen  amerifanifd^en  ^i>olfö;  unb  (3Kiat6!cbcn 
eng  i^erwadjfenen  (Sinridjtung  entgegentreten?  'iQci^t  ta§  nid)t  bie  &a\U 
frennbfc{)aft,  mit  ber  bieig  ?anb  un§  unllfommcn  l)iep  unb  anfnal)m,  mijps 
braudicn,  ben  Ununüen,  biV$  9)citUraucn  unb  bie  ?(bneigung  iinfrer 
engiifd)  rebenben,  l)ier  im  Sanbe  gebornen  SJiitbiirger  mntl)aHÜig  l)eran»s 
forbein?  3»  ber  6f(ai^enfrage  unb  aUen  anbern  ba§  23olf  beu^egenbön 
(fragen,  bei  bcnen  eine  amerifanifd)e  ^iuirtei  ber  anbern  gcgcniibcrftei)t, 
mögen  unr  unbebenÜiel)  naä)  eignem  (Srmeffen  unfre  ^uirtei  \v>al)len. 
Slber  in  einer  grage,  bei  ber  ba§  ganje  amerif  an  ifd)e  2]o(f  »vie 
Qin  9Jcann  jufammcnfte()t,  bemfelben  in  ber  (Sigenfd)aft  einer  beut  = 
fdjen  ^^wirtei  entgegentreten,  ift  ftd;ertid)  nid)t  ba§  93Jitte(,  ein  freunb; 
iid)eg  2]ert)altni|^  junfd)en  eingebornen  unb  eingenninberten  93ürgern  ju 
beforbern. 

2)ie  ©egner  ber  petition  bet)anbe(n  bie  ©efel^e,  wcUljc  biefelbe  in 
§(ugübung  gebradjt  wiffen  mil,  a\^  etumg  ganj  5Reueg  unb  Unerl)örtC!3. 
Gin  33(iff  auf  bk  bi§l)erige  iSonntagSgefel^gebung  unfere§  Staate^  unb 
unfrer  6tabt  tinrb  (cl)ren,  ob  fie  l)iebei  im  9ied)te  finb. 

(Bd)on  im  3af)rc  1647,  a{§  9Zew=g)orf  nod)  9?eu:5{mfterbam  I)ie^ 
unb  eine  f)oüanbifd)e  Kolonie  ivar,  erlief3  ^43cter  (Stui)tiefant,  bamaiiger 
©eneralbireftor  ber  vfloionie,  eine  ^4>rof[amation  gegen  bie  93eeinträd)* 
tignng  bc^  „Dinl^etage^^  bi^S  Jperrn,"  aunnn  unter  -ilnberm  and)  ber 
SSefnri)  ber  @d)enfen,  \renn  nid)t  ganjlid)  t^crboten,  fo  bod)  fel)r  bcfd)ranft 
iinrb.  3m  3at)r  1695  erlieB  bie  @enera(=?lffemb(i)  ber,  bamalg  fd)on 
unter  brittifd)er  Dberl)ol)eit  ftebenben  Äoionie  9{ew;^orf  ein  (^)efetv  worin 
alleg  9teifen,  5J(rbeitcn,  «Sd^ie^cn,  ©pieien,  SBcttrennen,  3aflcnunb  33  e* 
fud^enfon  @d;enfcn  am  ^age  be»  ^^errn  verboten  wirb.  3m 
3a!)r  1797  verorbncte  bie  9}?nnicipa(ität  von  9iew=2}orf,  am  üagc  beä 
^crrn  ober  Sonntage  foUe  fein  9Birtl)  in  feinem  «i^aufe  (^efeüfdjaft  aufs 
nel)men  ober  bcunvt()en,  nod)  QT^ein  ober  anbre^  ftarfe^  ^etranf  verfau; 
fen,  auf^er  an  9ieifenbe  unb  Äoftganger.  2)iefe  33erorbnung  unirbe  in 
ben  Sabren  1803,  1805,  1807,  1812,  1817  unb  1821  erneuert. 

^^ierang  erl)et(t,  bat?  ber,  unfern  ©egnern  fo  verftaf^te  fünfte  9(b* 
fdjnitt  ber  9J^etropolitans^^o(iJei=^^(fte  burd)au§  nid)t§  9Jeue^  cnt()ä(t, 
fonbcrn  nur  frnl)erc  ©cfel^cobeftimmungcn  wieberI)oIt.  1)ai?  fid)  aber 
biefc  33eftimmnngcn  auf  bie  öffcnt(id)e  9J?einung  unb  allgemeine  Sitte 
be§  amerifanifd)en  23o[fc§  ftül3en,  bafür  wollen  wir  l)ier  bloli  jwci  2;i)at' 
facbcn  aU$  ^iBeiege  anfüt)ren.  2)ie  eine  ift,  baf?  bie  (Sonftitntion  ber  93cr. 
Staaten  an\'i  bcftimmtcfte  vorfd)reibt,  ber  ^^^räfibcnt  folle  am  4.  d^läq 


!D  e  r  ©  0  n  n  t  a  g  5 1;  a  n  b  e  (  mit  t  e  r  a  u  [  d)  c  n  ^  e  ti  ®  c  t  r  o  «i  f  c  n.      7 

in  [ein  Shut  cingefiit)rt  werben;  g(cid)ivot)(  aber  unrb  c§  aU  fclbfti^crftvinb* 
lid;  angefcl;cn,  ba\%  wenn  ber  4.  9Jcärj  auf  einen  (Sonntag  \ai\t,  bk 
^•infnl}rung  cift  am  5.  53tarj  gc[d)cl)n  fann.  2)ie  anbre  3:i)at|adjc  ift, 
ta\}  unfcT  groi3cr  SfJationalfcfttag,  ber  3al)rc§tag  ber  Unabl)ängtgfcitf^= 
crflarnng,  \aiU$  ber  4.  3n(i  auf  einen  ©onntag  fallt,  crft  am  ö.  gefeiert 
unrb.  So  bel)anbelt  fowoI)(  ba^  (^Sefet3  al»  bk  Sitte  unfrei  Sanbe§  ben 
(Sonntag  als  einen  ju  gottesbicnft(id)en  Strerfen  beftimmten,  nnb  nid)t  a{§ 
einen  für  9iationatfefte  ober  fonftigen  g  eft  (id;  feiten  unb  ^H'rgniignngen 
geeigneten  2;ag.  3Bir  Slboptiybiirger  foüten  bal;er,  fclbft  ivenn  ©onns 
tag§yergmignngen  fein  moral  if  d)cg  Unred)t  wären,  fic  bod;  bc^s 
l)a(b  mciben,  weil  fte  nun  einmal  l)ier  ju?anbe  etwag  Ungefe^Iid)el 
unb  in  23ctrad)t  ber  Sincffid^ten,  bie  wir  unfern  5Jcitbürgern  fd;u(ben, 
ctwhis  Unbillig  ei"  ftnb. 

9ßir  wollen  nun  jule^t  nod)  unterfud)en,  ob  ©onntaglt»ergnügungcn 
öom  moralifd)en  (Stanbpunft  au§  red)t  unb  erlaubt  finb.  2)a  fragen 
wir  benn  jnnäd^ft  unfere  Ö3egner:  fiJnnt  3I)r  e^  in  SIbrebe  [teilen,  ba^ 
bcii  Sl)riftentl)um  überall,  woI)in  eä  gebrungen  i[t,  bk  (S.i))ili\ation  bes 
förbert  ^at?  ^önnt  3^c  uns  irgenb  ein  civilifirteä  Q3olf  nennen,  ba§ 
nid)t  ein  d)riftlid)c5  S^olf  wäre?  —  Unb  wir  fragen  weiter:  wirb  niä^t 
in  allen  Säubern,  in  benen  eine  freie 'SScrfaffnng  be[tel)t  unb  gcbeil;t,  bie 
S3ibel,  weld;e  bie  ©rnnblage  be§  Sl)riftentl;um^  ift,  t)om  SSolfe  gcbraud)t? 
Dber  fiMint  3I)r  5änber  nennen,  bie  frei  finb  ol)ne  bit  33iber?  —  ^^ad) 
5(llem,  wa§  un§  befannt,  ftel}t  eS  tro^  be§  inelen  9JtangelI)aften,  ba§  ftd; 
bei  un^  finbet,  bod)  golben  unter  un^  auä  im  Q^ergleid)  gegen  unfere 
^'taä)hav'-  unb  6cfcweftci--„9^epublif"  dJlexito  mit  iljrer  [teten  ?(nard)ic 
unb  il;ren  cnblo[en  93ürger!riegen,  ^a§  i^t  bie  Ur[ad)e  bie[er  großen 
^^er[d)iebenl)eit?  !Da§  a^olf  ber  93er.  Biaaten  beft^t  bk  93ibel,  baB 
93olf  93ccxifo'g  nid)t.  SSlicfen  wir  auf  Europa,  fo  fel)eu  wir  bort  @ngs 
lanb,  6d)ottlanb,  bie  9(ieberlanbe,  bie  (Sd)Weij,  5i.U-eu^en,  9?ürwegen  jc. 
I>erl;ä(tnit5mät3ig  frei  nnb  glücflid),  l)ingcgen  9üt§lanb,  Dcfterreid)  unb 
(Spanien  gcbrüdt  unb  unglücflid).  5Öol)er  fommt  bie§'l  3ii  ben  juer[t 
genannten  Säubern  wirb  bie  S3ibet  gele[en,  in  ben  leOtgenanuteu  uidjt. 

@  e  [e<3  unb  (Sitte  mü[[en  eben  alljeit  ^anb  in  i^anb  gelten.  2)tc 
bcften  ©efe^e  l;elfen  nid)t^,  wo  bie  Sitten  fel)le4)t  ftnb.  2Bie  aber  föns 
neu  bie  9)?enfd;eu  fid)  über  bie  Sittenlet)re  einigen,  wenn  nid)t  bie  jel}n 
©ebote  aU  gunbament  berfelben  angenommen  werben?  ^Sollen  wir  ooii 
§i;fu^g  wib  Solon,  üon  S^Juma  unb  Sicero,  üou  SonfucinS  nnb  9}iul)ami 
meb,  ober  and)  t»on  SSoltaire  unb  Diouffeau,  t>on  gid)te  unb  Jpegcl  un[r€ 
Sittenlcl)rc  entnet)men,  in  weld)e  enbto[e  SSerwirrung  geratl}en  wir? 
ilcine  (Einigung  i[t  bann  ju  erwarten.    1)ie  jel^n  ©ebote  l)ingegen  geuitJ 


8    2)  e  r  ©  0  n  n  t a  g  §  T)  a  n  b  e  (  m  i  t  6  c  i-  a  u  [  d)  c  ii  b  c  n  ®  c  t  r  ä  ii  f  e  n. 

0ctt  eine  [o  allgemeine  ^nerfennung,  iverbcn  »on  einer  fo  ungeTjeurcn  '^OMjx* 
I)eit  aI-3  vein  nnb  unil}r,  ali  biinbig  nnb  förnig,  a{§  binbenb  nnb  i^er; 
Vfiidjtcnb  bctradjtet,  ba^  mv  baxin  einen  fcften  Ginignnggpnnft  befil^en. 
9Znn like (autct  einia  »on  ben  je^n®cbcten:  „©ebenfe  be^  ©abatljtageg, 
ba\j  hn  ii)\\  l)ci(igcft !  (Sed)g  Siage  foUft  bn  arbeiten  nnb  a((e  beine  2)ingc 
be[d)irfen.  Slbcr  am  fiebenten  S^age  ift  bcr  ©abbatl)  be§  Jpcrrn,  bcines 
@otte»,  ba  [otlft  bu  fein  SBerf  tl)nn,  k."  SÖirb  nnn  bic§  eine  @Qbc\ 
bü  ©eite  gefeilt,  fo  fatten  atte  anbern  mit.     llnb  wo  finb  wir  bann?  — 

9iod)  mcl)r.  SBo  finben  nnr  cine  \o  bcnt(id;e  nnb  fd^onc  ÖTlänternng 
beio  ©eifteiä  nnb  (Sinned,  in  weldjcm  wir  nnfcre  fitt(id)en  ^fiid)ten  er^ 
fiitten  nu'iffen,  a{§  in  bem  6ittcngcfct)  (ft)rifti  nnb  feiner  5?(pofter? 
,,^Mc§,  was  il)r  woilt,  ba[^  end)  bie  £'cnte  tl)nn  fatten,  bai?  tl;nt  il)r 
i^nen!  —  ,,?at5  bid)  nid)t  bciS  33öfc  iibenxnnbcn,  fonbern  libeninnbe 
baS  S3öfe  mit  ©ntem!"  —  „9iad)ct  end)  fclber  nid)t!"  —  „©ebet 
3ebcrmann;  waß  il)r  fd)nlbig  feib!"  —  2Senn  fo(d)e  ?(nf^fpnui)e  feine 
offen  tl  id)  e  5(ncrfcnnnng  mel)r  finben,  was  wilVS  mit  bcr  2Be(t 
werben?  2© enn  ba^  (?l)riftcntl)nm  mit  feinem  ©cbct  ber  9iäd)ftenüebe 
in  einem  ?anbe  befeitigt  wirb,  ft)  mnf?  ja  cine  ganjU'd)e  i^eninlbcrnng 
unb  5(nf(öfnng  atter  2]erl)a[tniffc,  ein  Ärieg  fitter  gegen  5{ttc  folgen.  2}ie 
erfte  fi-anjöfifd)e  Oieüointion  mit  il)rcr  (£d)rerfcnöl)err|d)aft  gibt  ein  33ei; 
fpici  baüon.  „T)ic  l)}?cnfd)en  ftnb  fiidedit  genng  bei  il)rcm  (^lanbcn  an  bie 
33ibe(;  nimmt  man  il)nen  biefen  ®  (aubcn,fo  werben  fic  iH'ittenbi^  ganj  fd)(edn 
werben!"  3)a§  ift  ber  trorfene,  aber  trcffcnbe  '^(ugfprnd),  womit  ^ranflin 
bie  3iifenbnng  t»on  ^aine'ä  „3i'tta(tcr  ber  Sßernnnft"  beantwortete. 

Dl)ne  (Sl)riftentl)nm,  wir  wicbcrl)o(cn  c§,  fann  fein  3So[f^wol)l  bi'ftet)n. 
9tun  tritt  aber  ba§  (Sl)riftentl)nm,  obwoI)(  cy  jnnacbft  etwa»  (L^ciftigeü 
nnb  3nner(id)ea  ift,  bnrd)  mel)rere  il)m  eigcntl)iimlid;e  Drbnnngen  nnb 
gormen  and)  in'^  iinpere  Seben.  Unter  bicfcn  Drbnnngen  ftelit  noran 
bcr  d)rift(id)e  ©abbat!),  ber  2^ag  bcsä  •S^cxxu,  ber  3^ag,  an  weld)em 
Sl)riftn§,  ber  ©tifter  ber  d)rift(id)cn  9ie(igion,  anl  Zcb  nnb  &xab  anfev« 
ftanb.  2Öa§  wnfitcn  bie  aitm  DUnner  nnb  Öiried)en,  wa^i  wiffcn  (unit; 
jntage  bie  .r)inbn'!3  nnb  Sl)inef8n  öon  einem  ©onntag?  TiidHS  iviffen 
fie  ba»on,  Unb  and)  wir  wnfUcn  nid)t!5  bavon,  wari  nid)t  nnfern  ^i^atern 
ba§  (Sl)riftentl)nm  jngefommen  nnb  mit  il)m  bie  Ännbe  >oon  (fl)rifti 
5(nferftel)nng  nnb  il)rcm  wöd)entlid)  wieberfctircnben  ö^ebäd)tni|:tage. 
!Der  ©onntag  ift  alfo  eine  d)  r  i  ft  I  i  d)  e  3  n  ft  i  t  n  t  i  o  n ,  nnb  balier  ift'ö 
ein  mora(ifd)cg  Unred)t,  bicfe  ©tiftnng,  bem  ©inne  bco  ©tifter^ 
jnwiber,  jn  ganj  anberartigcn,  nn  d)riftlid)en  3wecfen  anjnwenben. 
©cfel^t,  eine  C''3cfe(Ifd)aft  IciriUfinnigcr  53nben  würbe  inmitten  einet 
tviiftcn  ©d)we(gcrei  einen  an§  il)rer  iWitte  bie  (Sinfel^nngoworte  b(^ 


Der  Sonntägig  an  bei  mit  berauf^eub  en  ©et  raufen.      9 

5(£»enbmat;f§  [preci)en  laffen  unb  bann  einen  3^runf  tl)un  unb  fagen: 
jefet  l)aben  wii  tuv^  2tbenbmal)(  gefeiert  —  würbe  nidjt  ein  jeber  reblidje 
9J?en[rf),  gfeicf)inc(  öon  we[d;en  9teIigion^anfid)ten,  barüber  cntriiftet 
Werben?  2öürbe  man  iljnen  nid;t  jurufen:  fd)Wefgt  immerl)in,  wenn  il)r 
finmal  [d)we(gen  wollt,  aber  lat^  ba§  d)rift[id;e  2lbenbmal)t  ftel)n,  wo  Ci^ 
ftel)t!  SB ie  aber  ba§  5lbenbmal;l  ha§  ®ebäd)tnimnal)t  bc!^  Dpfertobe5 
6l)rifti  ift,  unb  entwebcr  gar  nid;t,  ober  nur  in  bie[em  @inne  gefeiert 
werben  [oll  (wie  jcber  Q3ei'ftanbij]e  ^ngibt) :  fo  ift  ber  ©onntag  ber  ®c= 
badjtnifUag  ber  5^u[erftel)ung  3c[ii  (£l)ri[ti  unb  foil  ba'^^r,  wenng(cid)  »on 
Sebemnad)  feiner  befonberen  rcltgiöfcn  llebcrjeugung,  hod)  üon  Slllen  auf 
eine  ernfte,  fti(fc  9?3eife  gefeiert  werben.  2ßer  55ergungen  unb  S3eluftigung 
wiinfd)t,  ber  waljle  bajii  irgcnb  einen  i^on  ben  anbern  fed;:3  3^agcn,  laffc 
aber  \\n§  (£l;riften  ben  Sonntag  ju  bem  ^wtd  feiern,  woju  er  eingcfe(3t  ift. 
2)ie  amcrifanifd)e  ©efd)id)te  jeigt  auf'y  bciitlid;fte,  bap  bie  ©rünber 
ber  erften  europaifd^en  Äolonien  Ijier  im  ?anbc  blo'^  ^u  bem  ^wcd  Ijicn 
l)erfanten,  um  l)ier  ©ott  n  a  d;  ben  Sßor  fd)rif  ten  iljrex^  &C' 
wiffcuig  anjubetcn.  3l)i"e  5al)lrcid;en  9?ad)fommen  werben  ft4> 
bal)cr  biesS  grofjc  ^I5orred)t,  \x>k  'oon  fanatifd^en  23erfo{gcrn,  fo  and)  iwn 
ungläubigen  3]eräd;tern  nidjt  nel;men  (äffen.  3Son  unä  iTeutfdjen  ftnb 
g[eid)faniä  »iele  mit  um  beilwillcn  l)iel;er  auSgewanbert,  weil  fte  wußten, 
bat!  l)ier  Ütcligioii  unb  ©ottelbienft  üom  (Staate  nid;t 
uur  erlaubt,  fonbern  offentlid)  anerfannt  unb  gcfefelii^ 
gefd)ii^t  wirb.  5tnbre  gibt'§  unter  ung,  bie  ^war  früljer  bieg  nic^l 
bead)tetcn,  wä^renb  il)rc§  5(ufentl)alt0  l;ier  im  Sanbe  aber  eg  ad)ten  unb 
wertljfc^äl^en  gelernt  l)aben.  3)iefe  hdbcn  Älaffen  i->ou  3}eutfd)en  finb 
ebenfalls  nid)t  9Bilfen§,  ba^  9ied)t  beg  freien,  öffentlid;en,  un  g  eft  orten 
@  ottegbienftcg  fa'^ren  ju  laffen.  3n  il}rem  eignen,  in  il}rer  ^inber, 
in  il)rer  beutfd)en  Sanbglcutc,  in  beg  ganjen  Q3olfeg  3ntereffe  i^erbün; 
ben  fie  ftd)  mit  iljren,  für  bm  Sonntag  einfteljenben  amerifanifd)en 
9??itbürgcrn,  um  bie  Gntwei^ung  bc§  Sonntagg  unb  biz  Störung  bes 
©ottegbienfteg  burd)  öffentlid)e  23eluftigungen  ju  entfernen.  2)a  mögen 
benn  unfre  ©egner  Wol)(  jufelin,  wa§  fie  tl;un.  SBürbe  eg  i!^ncn  gelingen, 
unfer  Streben  ju  nid)tc  ju  madjen,  fo  würbe  bci§  nad)  unfrcr  Ueberjeui 
gung  für  fie  felbft  ber  gröi^efte  Sdmbe  fein.  3S?er  aber  biefe  Ueberjcu? 
gung  nid)t  tl)eilt,  ber  erfenne  unb  bcbenfe  wenigfteng,  ba^  ba§  9ied}t  auf 
Seiten  berer  ift,  bit  einen  \tiUm  Sonntag  wollen,  an  welchem  fowol)t 
bit  ®efd)äfte  alg  bit  95ergnügungen  ru'^en;  unb  balj  überl)aupt  bit  ©e* 
fe^e  unferg  Sanbeg  nid)t  baju  ba  finb,  btn  Unglauben  unb  Seid^tfinn  ju 
beförbern,  ber  ol)nebieg  überall  üppig  genug  empor  wudjert,  fonbern  ben 
©ot^egbienftunb  bie  gute  Sitte  ju  f^ü^en. 


10    2)''r  ©onntaglf)anbeI  mit  bcraufd^enbcn  ©ctcänfen 

petition 

feibfr  belt  Sonnt^gsljiinbcl  mit  kr^iitsffjcnbciT  6ttrSnIicir. 


§(u  ben  Scarb  bcr  ^ommifförc  bcr  SJJctroJJoIiton^Mijci. 

©ee^rte  .^evren  !  —  Xie  fünfte  6eftion  bet  2Retropolitan=^Dliäei^3lfte  be: 
fagt:  Q§  foil  bie  ^$f(td}t  ber  l;ierbiivd)  cingefet.ten  $oliäei=33e(?örbe  fein,  jebers 
jeit  bei  STage  nnb  bei  9^ad}t  ....  ben  öffentlichen  {^rieben  aufredet  3U  l;alten, 
S5erbred)en  gu  üevljüten,  unb  bie,  roelctje  3ßerbred^en  begangen  babcn,  ju  ücrs 
baften,  bie  Sid)erbeit  won  Seben  unb  ßigentl;um  ju  fdjill^en ;  einen  guten 
©cfunbbeitljuftanb  ju  beförbern ;  .  .  .  .  barauf  ju  b^itcn,  ba^  alle  auf  bie 
©cnntag'ofeier  bejiiglicben  ©efe|5e,  ....  fott>ie  bie  ©efe^e  binfid}tlid}  Spiels 
unb  2runf»  ....  gebörig  toolljogen  h)erben;  unb  alle  ftabträtblic^en  SSer« 
orbnungen  ju  befolgen  unb  ju  »olljieben  :c. 

Sie  Unteväeid^neten  berufen  fid)  auf  bie  beifolgenben  2(u§fprüd)e  üon  »ier 
ioerfd}iebcnen  ©raub  ^uvieä  —  bie  »on  ben  ebrenlt>ertbeften  93ürgern  l)tXi 
rubren  unb  eiblicb  bclrdftigt  fmb  —  fomie  auf  bie  amtlidjen  33crid)te,  bie 
toon  ^b"en  felber  abgegeben  finb.  Seiüeife  genug  liegen  barin  öor,  ba^  ber 
Sonntagicbanbel  mit  beraufdjenben  ©ctränfen  ben  öffcntlidben  ^yrieben  ftört, 
SBerbrecben  berbeifübrt,  bie  Sidjerbeit  üon  £eben  unb  Gigentbum  gcfäl^rbet, 
ben  cffentlidben  ©efunbbeitSjuftanb  üerfd}ledbtert,  bie  auf  bie  Scnntagöfcier 
beäüg(id}en  ©efehe  mit  e^ü^en  tritt,  bie  Spieliuutb  b^gt  unb  beförbcrt,  3;runE5 
fud)t  erjeugt  —  unb  ba^^  Stile»  in  offcntunbigcr  S^eradjtung  bcr  Gefcfce  bC'S 
Staate^  unb  ber  SSerorbnungen  bey  Stabtratb^J,  jU  bereu  5k'fülgung  unb  SSoIIj 
jiebung  Sic,  geebrte  Ferren !  fid)  feierlid}  i'»erpflid}tet  baben. 

S)ie  Steucriaft,  bie  ber  93ürger  jur  Söeftreitung  bcr  iJcftcn  bcr  ©criibtä« 
)jflcge,  ber  $cli3ci,  bcr  ©efdngniffe  unbbcr  2lrmen:33erpflcgung  aufzubringen 
bat,  ift  fo  brüdcnb  geiüorben,  baf}  man  billig  fragt:  ftiC'Sbalb  fmb  fo  Ijcljt 
Slbgaben  nötbig?  Unb  ba  finben  lüir  benn,  baf?  üor  3lllem  bie  7700  nicbt 
lijenfirten  Sdienfortc,  ton  benen  i'iber  .5000  am  Sonntage  offen  fteben,  bal 
DJlar!  be»  ©circrbefleifje^  unb  SBoblftanbeä  unfcrer  Stabt  terfiijlingen. 
Sine  balbe  2)lilliDn  ^^ollar»,  bie  bicfelben  jäbrlicb  ffir  Si3en3en  be3ablen  foH: 
ten  unb  bocb  unbejablt  laffen,  loirb  bem  ftäbtifi^en  Si^a^e  entgegen;  bie  öoni 


2) e r  © 0 n n t a g § T) a n b c I  mit  b c r a uf d; c n b c n  @ c t r 5 u f  e n.    11 

(Sefet'e  [eftgeftedten  ©trafgelber  für  gefe^tuibrige  .^anblimgen  am  6onntagc, 
im  93etrage  tion  irenigfteng  einer  äRilUou  3)o[Iar§,  iverben  nid^t  eingeforbert; 
»on  ben  40,000  öffentlidjen  2lrmen  ift  bei  SBeitem  bie  ^cl}xiaU  in  '^olQt  bet 
2:runffudit  arm  gemorben.  31(1'  biefe  Summen  I;at  anftatt  berer,  benen 
ibre  Sejablung  mit  SHcd^t  obläge,  ber  fleißige  unb  orbentlid^e  93ürger  ju  ial): 
len.  5)od^  bie^^  i)'t  nod^  ba^  2Benig[te.  23or  unfcren  ©erid)töbö[en  unb  in 
unfern  ©efdngniffen  befinben  ficb  S^aufenbe,  bie  in  ^yolge  betS  Hu^fc^enfenl 
beraufcbenber  ©etrdnfe  am  Sonntage  adererft  auf  bie  Sabn  beg  fiafter;?  unb 
S3erbred^en§  bi^fl^leitet  h^urben.  S)ie  £uft  unb  2ü{f)tig!eit  gur  Strbeit  föirb 
baburcb  cerminbert,  SSerarmung  unb  Gntfittlic^ung  beförbert ;  bei  ber  Sugenb 
»ornebmlicb  föirb  eine  njüfte  £eben»tt)eife,  unb  in  golge  baoon  bag  Dioföb^^ 
tbum  unb  bie  äügcUofe  Uebertretung  ber  ©efe^e  genährt,  ba§  fittlicbe  ßefübt 
gefcbmäd)t,  bie  .^eiligteit  be»  Stage»  beä  ^errn  üerle|t  unb  ber  föobltbätige 
einflui5  ber  Dkligion  gel;emmt.  ^m  ^inblid  auf  all'  fold^e  Ungebübr  fcnnen 
bie  Unteräeid}neten  nii^t  um^in,  in  ibrem  eigenen  unb  ibrer  ÜJiitbürger  ^n-. 
tereffe,  jur  33e!ämpfung  biefer  Uebel  ebrerbietig  unb  bennocb  ernftlid)  Sdbu§ 
unb  .^ülfe  ju  begebren. 

Sie  ftatiftifcben  2(ngaben  ^l)xe§  93oarb'ä  befunben  einen  fo  genauen  3«» 
fammenbang  jhjifc^en  bem  Sonntag§bfl"bel  mit  beraufdienben  ©etränfen  unb 
ber  23egebung  Don  SSerbrec^en,  ba^  er  ^\)xe  2tufmertfam!eit  unb  3br  ®i"= 
fcbreiten  gebieterifcb  erforbert.  Gg  gebt  baraug  berüor,  baJ5  in  ben  acbt^ebn 
SIRonaten  »om  8.  ^uli  1857  big  8.  ®e3ember  1858,  am  2»  i  e  n  ft  a  g  im  @an= 
jen  7816,  am  Sonntag  binsege«  9713  SBerbaftungen  ftattfanben,  alfo 
25  ^rocent  mebr. 

3tod^  fcblagenber  ift  bag  S^ugni^  3>br6§  legten  3abregberi(^tg,  morin  Sie 
bie  3'^bl  tier  S3erbaftungen  an  brei  aufeinander  folgenben  Sonntagen,  an 
mc[d]en  „bag  ©efetj  beobacbtet  nnirbe,"  auf  254  angeben,  mäbrenb  bie  SSer^ 
baftungen  an  eben  fo  t»ielen  Sonntagen,  „nadjbem  bie  5Berfäufer  beraufcben: 
ber  ©etrdnfe  erfabren  batten,  baf;  fie  bag  tSefe§  ungeftraft  übertreten  !i3nn= 
ten,"  fid)  auf  503  beliefen.  Sieg  jeigt  auf  g  bünbigfte,  iüie  febv,  n^enn  jener 
.^anbel  aufbort,  bie  SSerbrecben  unb  Störungen  i)eg  offentüdjen  ^riebeng  ab' 
ncbmen.  tiefem  offiziellen  Slftenftüd  gemd^  oerbinberte  alfo  bie  nur  tbeil' 
njeife  unb  üorübergebcnbe  ^Solljiebung  ber  ©efe^e  tttiber  ben  Sonntaggban^ 
bei  mit  beraufd}enben  ©etränfen  bie  §älfte  ber  S?erbrecben  unt)  UJubeftö: 
rangen,  bie  ju  erwarten  lt>aren  unb  n?irflicb  gefcbaben,  fobalb  .bie  Sdjranfe 
be»  ©efe^eg  biniüeg  getban  trar.  2Bie  »ie^  ift  baber  ^u  l)o\ien,  föenn  jener 
§anbel  nöltig  unb  bleibenb  unterbrüdt  ttiirb!     S)a  nun  ber  Sufamntenbang 


12    :l) c r  6 0 n n t a g S I) a n b c I  mit  6 e r a u f d; c n b e n  © c t r ä n f c n 

jluifd)en  Urfad^e  unb  SBirfun^  in  biefem  fjalle  [o  beutlid)  gu  Sioge  Hegt,  fo 
fte^t  ^f)nen,  ac()tbare  ^erren!  foirof)!  nacf)  aHgemein  gültigen  ©efeljieS'^rinjij 
^ien,  aU  nad)  ben  33eftimmungen  ^i^ter  Drgani[intng|:2nte,  (it»cld}e  6ie  »er^ 
pflid}tet,  „3?evbrec^en  su  t)erl}üten  unb  bie,  njelc^e  fie  begangen  I)aben,  ju 
öer^aften,")  ba^  unbeftrittene  3^ec^t  gu,  bie  ganse  unter  Syrern  93efel)I  fte^ 
benbe  ^cU^eigeiratt  üielmebr  3ur  llntevbriicEiing  ber  Urfad^e  bei3  Uebell, 
aU  feiner  jat^nofen  eingelnen  i?unbgebitngen  ju  üeriuenben.  Sie  I;aben, 
um  mit  einer  neueren  ©ranb^^ui^P  3«  reben,  [onjcfjlbaä  D^led^t  aU  bie  2Ilad}t, 
„bie  SBurjeln  biefeio  ©iftbaum^  anäjurotten,  fo  baji  er  föeber  ©(ättcr,  äno§- 
pen  unb  93lütt)cn,  noc^i  5rüd)te  bringt,  momit  oI;ne  3>ücifel  n'el;r  auege= 
rid}tet  ivivb,  aU  burd^  ba^  frud}ttDfe  Streben,  bie  bereite  jur  Dieife  gelang- 
ten 5rüd}te  5u  jerftören."  ^\Vä  bod}  unenblid}  Ieid}ter,  ein  Uebel  t>cn  üorn 
berein  abjun^ebren,  al^,  inbem  man  e§  ftetiS  fic^  neu  er3eugen  unb  ncr^ 
breiten  läjjt,  iä  bann  nad^ber  f)intreg  gu  fd)affen! 

3lad)  bcm  Statut  üom  ^al;re  1857  !ann  jeber  üon  ben  7,702  nid}t  li^enfir 
ten  3}erfänfern  berauf(^enber  ©etränfe  beiSbalb  ferbaftet  Serben,  lüeit  er  über 
baupt  (am  Sonntag,  n^ie  an  jebem  anbern  S^age,)  biefen  .^anbel  treibt;  ge 
gen  bie  Ujenfirten  SSerMufer  ober  ift  gemä^  ber  in  jenem  Statut  entl;alte 
neu  23eftimmungen  n^iber  ben  Sonntaglnerfauf  ju  »erfaf)ren.     Scbann  »er 
bietet  bie  ftdbtifdje  35erorbnung  (Corporation   Ordinance)   üon  1855  alkn 
Scnntag»l;anbel  mit  beraufd)enben  ©etr.än!en  bei  ®elb=  ober  ©efängnifjftrafe, 
unb  fct5t  feft,  ba|  öor  irgenb  föeld^er  obrigfeitlic^en  5ßerfon  besba'b  ullage 
eingelegt  werben  fann.    Gi?  fmb  alfo  ©efelje  genug  gegen  bie^s  Uebel  »erbans 
ben,  unb  bie  öffentlid)e  3)Ieinung  >üirb  unferä  Grad)ten!§  für  ibre  Soll^iebnng 
eintreten  unb  bie  2)^it»uirfung, ber  Dbrigfeit  forbern,  bie,  mc  toir  l]o\icn,  wil-. 
lig  geleiftet  ttjerben  iüirb,  um  bie  Stabt  öon  einer  .^aupturfa(^e  ber  üb'crmä; 
^igen  33efteuerung,  ber  23erormung  unb  ber  SSerbred}en  ju  befreien. 

S)a  jebocb  unter  ben  STaufenben  toon  93iermirt^en  unb  anbern  25erfäufcrn 
berauf(benber  ©etränfe  —  befonberä  unter  ben  ni(bt  |)icr  ju  $?anbc  gcbcrnen 
—  mancbc  fein  mögen,  bie  nid)t  lüiffen,  ba^  il)r  ©efcbäft  gcfel^iioibrig  ift, 
fo  möd^ten  mir  anempfeblen,  bafj  bie  ©cfege  unb  2>erDrbnungen  binfid}tlid^ 
bc§  Sonntagg^anbcliö  mit  beraufd^enbcn  ©etränfen  gebrudt  unb  in  allen 
S^enfplä^en  toertbcilt  merben.  3ngfei<i?  o'^c'^  irerbe  ausobrüdlid?  angcfüns 
bigt,  bafi  toon  einem  beftimmten  Sage  an  bie  ganje  ^oli3ci:©emalt  bcbanlic^ 
baju  toermenbet  njerben  mirb,  biefen  SBcftimmungen  ©cborfam  3U  toerfdjaffcn 
unb  ©efe§  unb  Orbnung  miebe^  ^erjuftelten. 

31.^^  ber  Slnftd^t  be«  Unterzeichneten  ift  ein  berartige^  SScrfabren  erforber« 


!3)er  (Soiiutag»I)anbe{  mit  6crau[c()enbcn  ©cträiifeu     13 

lid),  um  bie  SBürbe  unb  ba5  2(nfel^en  Sl^reä  SSoarbS  ju  bel^auptcn,  ur, p  urn 
ba»  2Bo[;l  bcr  Giiuuol^nerfcijaft,  beren  £eben  unb  ©igeutl^um  ^i^vem  Sd^ulji  an- 
vertraut finb,  ju  ben)af)ren.  UeberbieiS  begefjren  mir  ein  berartigey  Serfal^- 
ren  im  ^"terefie  beejenigen  3;l^ei(e§  unserer  eingeiranberten  93eüöl!erung,  ber 
für  bie  ©efe^ie  unb  Snftituticnen,  unter  benen  et  lebt,  nid}t  bie  erforberlidje 
S(d)tung  befiW;  im  ^t^tereffe  ber  ungtüdlid}en  Opfer  ber  Slrmutf)  unb  Sßer= 
bred}en,  benen  eine  ftiKe,  ernfte  Sonntagsfeier  jtüiefad;  9cotI)  tfjut,  um  .ftraft 
in  ertjatten  jum  SBiberftanb  gegen  bie  $Berfud)ungen  ber  SSod^e;  im  ^ntereffe 
ber  5<^iiii'ie"/  benen  ba»  taglii^e  93rob  burd}  ben  ©onntagtSüerfauf  berau= 
fdjenber  ©ctrdnfe  for  bem  3Jiunbe  »neggencmmen  unb  in  ©ift  für  il;re  ©at= 
ten  unb  Später  umgeiuanbett  lüirb;  im  ^ntereffe  ber  c^riftlid^en  Bürger,  beren 
9fiut)e  geftort  unb  beren  fittUcbeiS  ©efütjt  burcb  ben  toilben  £ärm  bcr  (£onn= 
tag^fdjenfen  unb  Scnntagätl^eater  gehäuft  föirb;  im  ^ntereffe  ber  €ittli(^= 
feit  unb  9ieIigion  überf)aupt,  bie  nic^t  beftel;en  fönnen,  menu  ber  Sonntag 
entf)ei(igt  unb  in  jügedofer  3ei^ftteuung  jugebrad^t  mirb.  Unb  >üir  be^aup  = 
ten:  audi  unfere  freien  ^nftituticnen  fönnen  babei  nid)t  beftctjen,  inbem  itjr 
®cbei[;en  unb  it)rc  ©rtjaltung  t>on  ber  öffentlidien  2(nerfennung  ber  3e(}n  ©e= 
bote  unb  ber  ©runble^ren  bei3  3ieuen  Seftament»  abfjdngt. 

(£c^Hef5lid}  erflären  luir  Unterjeic^nete,  fotrofjt  in  betreff  unfer  felbft,  ala 
aller  guten  Bürger,  ba^  ^l)v  33Darb  non  unfver  billigen  unb  ftanbl)aftcn 
Unterftülutng  jeber  gmedmä^igen  9Jia|rege(  jur  Unterbrüdung  be»  Sonn» 
tageljanbelio  mit  beraufd}enben  ©etränfen  überjeugt  fein  barf. 

[gotgeu  bie  Olamcn  »on  428  beutf^en  (Sinwcfjnevn  ucn  ?len3:2)orf.] 


14    2)cc  <Sonutag§l^anbcl  mit  bccaufc^cnbcn  ©ctcänfctt. 


1.  2)ie   ®ianb-3uri?  »om   gebruat  1858,  unter  SSorfi^  »on  SBil* 

[on  ©.  Jpii'^t/  eifldrt: 

„2)ie  oon  einem  S:(;cile  bcr  93cüü(fcvuiig  an  ben  S!ag  gelegte  SBevad^tung  ber  ®e« 
fc^e,  uicldje  bic  (Scnntagö:geiet  betreffen,  i|l  ein  bebenflid;cö  unb  ftctö  junct^mcnbc^ 
liebet.  ...  3n  einigen  ber  üolfi:eid)ften  (£tabttl)eile  ftnb  am  ©cnntag  -Jiadjmittag 
nnb  5lbenb  tljeatralifdje  SÖtn-ficflungen,  tvicltüd;e  (Soncerte,  Jlcgclba()ncn,  (gd)ie^< 
VlälpC,  Oaufclfpiclc,  fSanjfale,  ^infifbanbcn,  <gd}eiifcn  nub  alle  mDgltd)en  [üuftigen 
nngc|"c§lid}eu  ä3crgniigungcn  in  aodem  ®ange,  in  cffenev  a3crletpung  be^  ©cfe^ciJ 
nnb  5Jid}tad}tung  bcv  Obrigfcit.  (Sine  gvc^e  ä)Jcnge  unberoad)ter  junger ilente  unbent« 
ftttlid)terälterec  ^cutebeibcrlei  ®efd)led)tö  ftri»mt  ju  biefen,  gefe^wibrig  uffenen  Orten 
()in,  nnb  bie  ^ülgen  baycn  ftnb:  SUi6fd}lr)eifungcn, -giänbcl  unb  l;ciu[ige  ®cwalttl;atcn. 
5tbgefc()en  «on  ber  ^Belaffigung  unb  33cleibiguug,  iveldjc  bcm  bai3  ©ofe^  beubadjten; 
ben  unb  d)riftlid}cn£()eilebcr  Süeüijücrnng  burd)  fo(d}e  Störungen  enr>äd}|t,  mu^  fd;oii 
bie  S;t)at)"ad;e,  ba^  bie  ®efctj,e  auf  foldje  3lrt  öffcntlidj  nerlcgit  »ocrbcu  foniien,  cijnt 
bag  bie  baju  Dcrcrbncte  Dbiigfeit  i(}re -öanbl^abung  burd;fe^eu  fann,  «on  ber  fd)äb= 
lid)flen  SBirtung  fein.  !Diefe  9Bir!ung  crfirecft  fid)  nid}t  nur  auf  bie  Uebclgcfinuä 
ten,  wetdje  an  biefen  ungefe^lidjen  3ufamnienfiiuften  tl)eilnef)men,  fonberu  auf  5lllc, 
irield)e  burri)  bie  unwirffame  «^anbl^abung  bcö  ®efe^eö  ju  einem  fd;lcd)ten  Scbeniäwaus 
bet  »eranlajjt  werben,  liüir  cmpfel;lcn  bal;cr,  bap  bie  ®efc^e  belauf«?  Uuterbriiifung 
biefcv  iadjaujlednngeu  fircng  burd}gcfiif;rt,  unb  eö  jur  befoubercn  ^4>ri'd;t  ber  ^poli^ei 
gcniad)t  i»erbe,  biefelbcu  burd}  flete  unb  gteidjmajjige  J^anbl)abung  besS  ®efc§e>5  ju 
unterbriicfcn.  (St3  ifl  nid)t  ju  leugnen,  bap  biefe  ungefe^lidjcn  Sufammenfiinftc  ju  ben 
-5au))turfad)en  gefrören,  burd)  »etd)C  in  ber  oerbcrbenen  3ugenb  unferer  ©tabt  bie 
furd)tbare  ®eueigt()eit  ju  93erbred)cn  erjeugt  wirb,  bie  »or  unfern  Jlriminal:®erid)ten 
fid)  tdglid)  funb  gibt." 

2.  3)ic  ®ranb=3un)  üom  Dftobcr  1858,  unter  SSorfi^  öon  ß.  fR. 
9ÄorrU,  crflürt: 

„©ic  6ntweil)uug  be3  ©onntagsJ  »on  ©eitcn  berer,  Wcld)C  bie  ja^lrcid)en  !£tinfj, 
Hanj-  unb  ®efang=üüfalc  befud)en,  bie  burd)  bie  gan^e  ©tabt  fid)  in  aJknge  finben, 
ifi  ein  ®egcnftanb  fteter  Älage,  unb  erferbert  ein  cntfd)lüifencö  unb  wirffameö  ©in; 
fd)reiten  ber  Dbrigfcit  bebnfö  Unterbrücfung  berfclben.  3)ie  ®ranb=3ur^  ifi  im  ©cjt^ 
\)cn  2;()atfad)en,  n)cld)e  bewcifen,  baf  gegen  20,000  j^^lle  »on  Uebertretung  be^  93er« 
betö  l)i^iger  ©etränfc  am  ©cnntag  ber  ipolijei  angezeigt  Yoorben  finb,  o^ne  bap  auc^ 
nur  in  (Sincm  %a{k  ein  gerid)tlid)eö  5ßerfa{)reu  cingeleit*:t  itdre.  <Dic  ®ranb  3un)  itt 
ber  5lnfid)t,  bap  jcbeö  @efe|},  bie  (Sntwei^ung  beö  «Sonntag«  betreffcnb,  fircnge  ge« 
t)anb()abt  werben  folltc,  wenigiienö  fotceit  ali  nöt^ig  iji,  urn  alle  Störung  ber  öffent« 
lidien  giube  ijon  bencn  fernzuhalten,  bie  eö  öot^ic^cn,  biefen  Züq  ^ö^crcn  nni 
beiligeren  3wccfen  ju  wibmen." 


ÜDer  ©ountag!3t)vtiibc(  mit  berauf ii)enbeit  ©etränf en.    15 

3.  2)ie  ©wnb-Siiii;  lunu  21.  San.  1859,  unter  SSorfi^  üon  Z'i)ioi> 
5Diartine,  eifUut: 

„3)ic  ®ranb:3iui)  faiin  if;rc  Sttbcitcn  nirtjt  fdjliefen,  c^ue  bcm  ®ettd}t(S^cf  uni 
btnt  ^^iiblifum  bic  inid^tige  2:f)atfacl)C  »ovjulegen,  baf  ein  fcf)r  grofer  S:()e(l  bcr  XUiiU 
jiviubc,  bie  ftc  in  (Svuiägiing  jii  jiel;en  ijutte,  öoii  bem  SBevEauf  unb  ©eOiaurf;  hixaw. 
fcjjeiibcr  ©ctvänfc  (;errülute. 

„gaft  'illc  Siitfc  uon  5Dlorb,  lleberfaU  unb  ©djiägcrei,  bt'c  jur  Untevfiu 
(^niig  gcfciumcii  finb — unb  bic  3a()t  berfelben  i|l  fef)i:  giop  —  vüfjrcn  nact)wcislict; 
üon  bicfci'  lUfadje  l;cr.  (ä'ö  läßt  fürt;  bal}er  nid^t  abfc(;cn,  wie  eine  93cimiiibciung 
ber  ffictbvcdien  ju  cnravtcn  fei,  fo  lange  ©cfc^e  juv  Untevbviufung  beö  33evfaufcö  bcs 
taufdjcubcr  ©etvänfe  cntivcbcv  feilten,  über,  infoferu  fie  üciljauben,  fid;  alö  ununiffvint 
bewcifcn 

„(S'tS  irt  adgenieiu  bcfannt,  baß  bie  3al)l  bec  ©djcnfpla^c,  wo  jene  ©etränfc  »er; 
fauft  »evi?eu,    ftd;  binnen  weniger  ^Cif^xe  (lavf  üermef)vt  l;at;  unb  I]ierau5  mag  in 

gkuöcnt  Tlaijt  bic  fiiu-fc  Öenncljtung  kr  5öerlircc()cn,  bcr  Sjcrarnmng  imb  bcr  'ab: 
gakuiaft  ititfercr  Stabt,  fowie  bie  »emiel;rte  Slrbeit  unfercr  (5riminal:©erid)tc  ju  er= 
Haren  fein." 

2)ic  ©i-anb-3url)  i)om  ?5ebruar  1859,  unter  SSorfi^  öon  Sljarleä 
5lug.  !Dain^,  gibt  folgenbc  nac^brü(f(tct)c  @rf (drung  ab : 

„^te  aJlenge  ber  Slvmeu  biefer  ©tabt  unb  Sounttj  ift  je^t  auf  beinahe  öicrjig 
itaufenb  gefttegen.  S)icfe  ßa^l,  bic  mit  5)ied)t  Seunrnbignng  erweifl,  jevfällt 
in  jtt^ei  Jtiaffen,  nämltd)  foldje,  bic  tu  beu  öffcntlid^en  Slnfialten,  unb  foldjc,  bic 
anberwcitig  unterftii|t  werben  (indoor  and  outdoor  poor.)  2)ic  crtlcre  klaffe  niadit 
Hngcfä(}r  ein  SSievtljeil,  ober  iiber  8000  auö ;  bie  (entere  klaffe  über  30,000.  ©o: 
mit  finb  40,000  3lrme  auf  bie  ^ürforge  ber  ©iniüerneurc  be^  2tvmeul}au3;3)cijartc-: 
mcnt'J  angewiefen,  ju  einem  uon  ben  ©teucr^jflid)tigen  aufjnbringenben  .ftoftenbc^ 
trage,  wcld)cr  ber  ganzen  Jlbgabeniaft  gteidjfommt,  bic  cor  nur  20  3^i()reu  aufgebradit 
werben  mußte.  2)aö  finb  Sil^atfadjen  fefjr  beunruf)igenber  3lrt,  iiüfleubö  wenn  wir 
fiuben,  baß  nngead)tet  einer  fo  anSgebefinten  aBcf)U^ätigfcit  baö  Uebet  in  rafd}em 
3une^men  begriffen  ijl,  worauf  unocrfennbar  erhellt,  baß  9lftei3,  waö  bie  cfenttic^e 
ä)iilbtl)ätigfeit  geben  mag,  bie  93erarmung  binnimmt,  unb  Wol;l  ncd)  weit  me^r 
baju.  Uno  bürf)  bleibt  baöjenige,  watS  bie  ^riuat^iDiilbtljätigfeit  tl)ut,  nur  Wenig 
I)inter  ben  anfeljnlidjeu  ©uninien  jnriicf,  weld)e  bie  bffentliri}e  äJtilbt^dtigfeit  uerauö: 
gabt. 

,,*-öci  Uuterfud}ung  bcr  %äilc,  bie  unö  in  einem  langen  SSer^eii^niß  yon  93erbrcd;en 
ju  Slnfang  unfercä  je^igcu  3!crmincö  uorgelegt  würbe,  finben  wir,  baß  mit  fefjr  wenigen 
2ln^na()mcn,  bic  angezeigten  93crbred)en  in  ^lä^en  unb  ^öf)len  ber  ©d}leri;tigfeit  ent« 
fprangcn,  Wo  bcranfdjenbe  ©etränfc  öcrfauft  unb  gctrnnfen  würben." 


16    2)er  6onntag§l)aube(  mit  Berau[d)cnbcn  ®  ctran  feu 


^cfc^c  unb  S5ci'orbmnigcn,  ktrcffcub  bcu  8omitag^^[)anbc(  mil 
kraufdjcnbctt  ®cträu!cu, 

1.  ®c[c(pc,  wc[d)c  aikn  43^inbc[,  itcbft  ©picleii  unb  t()catvali[d)en 
SSorfteÜungeu,  am  ^Sonntag  i^ei-btctcii. 

§  58.  [5lbfct)nitt  C4.]  Diicmaub  fc((  ivcjeiib  cine  Sßevfammluitg  uon  Scutcn,t'ie  jum 
©cttcebiciift  jufanimciiijcfoiiimen  [tiiti,buvcl}  lofe  Sieben,  biirdj  rol;ei3  unb  uuauftäubigcö 
^etivigcii,  obcf  buvcl;  (Sireguug  ücn  Sävm,  abfidjtUd)  ftövcu,  untevbred}cu  iifcv  beiin; 
niljtgen,  fei  cä  an  ber  Stätte  beö  ®ütteöbienfte(5  felbji,  cbcv  fo  na()e  babci,  ba^ 
bie  Dvbiuuig  unb  feievtidje  -Haltung  ber  33erfammlung  babuvd)  gefiijit  ipivb.-'  9lu^ 
füf(  Dcifnianb  iunei()alb  jwei  i'Jieileit  Don  t>cnt  Dxtt,  'mo  ivgcnb  eine  9lcligiLin(?;®efeHi 
fd;aft  gevabc  jum  ©ütteabieni^  uei'fanuneU  ijl,  Iji^ige  ober  beftillivte  ©etväufc  jum 
aSevfauf  übcv  5ßevfd}enten  auäftetlen,  obev  cine  ^ccfeibiibe  t)alten  an  ivgenb  einem 
Dxk,  ffiivtfjiStjaufc,  Jlanf;  cbcv  8pejcrei=l'aben,  al^  nur  an  fold)cn,  bie  gel)övig  liicn« 
ftvt  ftnb;  unb  an  benen  bev  Jßcifäufei:  feine  geaHif)nlid)C  ÖBo()nung  gcl;abt  ober  fein 
®efd;äft  betrieben  [)at.  5hid;  foil  DJienianb,  innerfjalb  ber  genannten  (Sntfemnng, 
irgeiibwcld)e  @d}aufte(lnngcn  ober  ©piclc  verantlatten,  außer  wenn  biefelben  ucn  bet 
betreffcnben  93cl;övbe  ge(;örig  lijcnfirt  »vcrbcu  ftnb.f  9lud)  foU  iJtiemanb,  inucrl^alb 
ber  genannten  (S'ntfernuug,  irgenb  ein  Sycttrenncn  irgenbweld)er  SJ'l^ierc,  über  irgenb 
ein  ©picl  \)i.ni  ivgenb\ric(d}er  l'lrt  bcföiberu,  unter|"tii^en  ober  betreiben,  t 

§  59.  [l'lbfd^nitt  65. J  äüer  irgenb  eine  Jücftinunung  beei  vcrl)erge[)enben  ?lbfdinittö 
ücrlcljt,  fann  üur  irgenb  einem  j5ricbeni3rid.)ter  beS  (icuntl),  cfcr  irgcür  einem  i'ialjor, 
Steccrber,  Sllbermann,  ober  fonftigcr  obrigfeitlidjen  *4^*erfün  ber  Stabt  (city),  n^o  baö 
•5yerget)n  ftattfanb,  fummarifd)  übenincfon  uu-rben  ;  unb  U'cnn  er  übenviefcn  uicrbeu 
ift,  füll  er  in  eine  ©elfftrafe  r>erfa((en,  u^eldje  bie  ©umme  von  25  Sollarö  nid)t  iibcr» 
fleigt,  juni  !i3e|ten  ber  Slrmen  im  (Sountl). 

[(Viir  ben  'tfaK,  bajj  jemanb  bic  ©etbftcafe  unb  Jloflen  nid}t  bcjafjlcn  fann,  ivirb  iu 
9lbfd)nitt  G8.  ©efängnififtrafe  ücrgefdjrieben,  bie  nid)t  über  30  S'age  banern  foil] 

§  06.  [^ilbfd)nitt  70.]  ©iefer  5lbfd)Hitt  »erbietet  „<Svtcl,  *ycfud)  von  (£d)enfcu, 
ober  irgenbwclct;e  fonft  gcfe^lid)  erlaubte  Hebungen  ober  53eluftigungen,  am  evilcr 
2Bod)entag,  genannt  Sonntag/'  unb  fdjrcibt  für  jcbeä  S3ergel;n  eine  geringe  ®elb. 
firafc  iior. 

§  67.  [2lbfd)nitt  71.]  Qfliemanb  foil  irgcnblueld^e  ffiaaren,  ^anbcK^artifel,  ?irüd)te, 
»Kraut,  ©üter  ober  fonftige  Jgabe  am  ©onntag  jum  93erfauf  aueiftetlcn,  aut^genomme« 
Slcifd),  iDiild)  unb  SifrijC,  bic  ju  irgenb  einer  3cit  i'or  neun  Ul)r  üliorgent^  ücvfaufl 
tuerben  bürfen.  Sie  in  fold;er  SBcife  jum  33erfanf  anögeftelltcn  ©egenftänbc  feilen 
jum  äBtften  ber  Firmen  eingcjcgen  unb  Traft  ctncä  ju  bicfem  3ivetfe  auegcftefUeu  5i3avj 
rantö,  ben  irgenb  ein  griebencirid;tev  bc3  Süunt«,  ober  SDJaljor,  Slcccrber  ober  JU'dccj 

*  3n  Oülge  bitftr  äöcflimmung  ijl  iai  Slitäfijjrticn  ber  BcitungSbutcn  unflcfctlid). 
+  Viei  ifi  auf  SoflerMer-ÄlKater  auweiibV'ür. 

t  Xxei  'BcrbBt  i(l  auf  bic  aufeer^alb  tcr  ©labt  onattleHtcn  Wettrennen  tvcriibcr  ffter«  flctlagl  wirb, 
«mecnblnr. 


5)er  SonntagS^anbet  mit  bcraufc^cnben  Oetrdnfcn.    17 

mann  ber  ©tabt  ^icrmit  ermädjtigt  ifi  auöju^eflen,  auf  gefc^el^cne  UeBcrweifung  be« 
©c^ulbigcn  »cggencmmen  weroen.  9laci)  erfolgtet  aBegna(;me  foKen  (le,  nadjbcm 
folct;cö  einen  S^ag  jnüor  bcfannt  gcmati;t  njorben  ifi,  »eifauft,  unb  bet  (Srlöö  ben 
2(rmen:5Uiffc(;ci-n  tesJ  33cjivfi5  (town)  oiix  bee  ©tabt  auäbi^aijit  »erben. 

2.  ®e|c(^e,  ive(d)c  beii  3}erfauf  beraufcf)enber  ©etcänfe,  ol)ne  Sicettj, 
»ccbictcn. 

®te  @c[ege  öon  1857,  Aap.  628,  Bcfiimmen : 

§  13.  aL*cr  ivgcnDroeld^e  t^^irfe  ober  [piritnöfe  ©etrdnfe  ober  Sffieine  in  Ouantitdten 
»on  weniger  aU  fünf  ©aKonen  auf  einmal  perfauft,  cl)ne  eine  Sicenj  bafitr  ju  Ijabcn, 
btc  fo  crtl)eilt  i\t,  wie  f;ier  »orgefdjricben,  fod  in  eine  ©elbjirafc  »on  fünfzig  ^oüaxa 
für  jebe  Utbertretung  »erfaden. 

§  14.  aßcf  irgeuMoeldie  ftarfe  ober  fpiritnöfe  ©etränfe  ober  SBeinc  in  feinem 
^aufe  ober  l'abeu  ju  trinfcn  oerfauft,  o^ne  eine  Sicenj  aU  ^i\i)cihex  eineö  2ßirt^a= 
Oaufeä,  einer  ©cl;enfe  ober  einctJ  ©ai'ilioftJ  ju  (jaben,  feil  in  eine  ©elbftrafe  »on 
fünfzig  S)oüarö  für  jcbc  Uebertretung  »erfallen. 

§  16,  m  füll  bie  *4>fiict)t  jccf^  @cl)crijf'ö,  Untcrfc^eriff'^,  2)epiit^:©c{}eriff'ö,  Äon-= 
ftabler'iJ,  i'Jiavfcl}all'i?,  *4)olijeibienerei  otier  ^^^'olijei^Dffijier'ö  fein,  ^eberniann  ju  »etc 
Ijaften,  ber  über  ber  tl)atfärt)licl)en  5J3egel)ung  irgenb  einer  Ucbertietung  bicfcr  Slfte 
betroffen  wirb,  uud  benfelbcn  fofort  »or  irgenb  eine  obrigfeitüc^e  *4^*etfcn  berfelben 
©tabt  ober  iti  JBejirfö  ju  füliren,  bap  mit  iljm  nacf;  ben  33ejiimmungen  biefet  Slfte 
»erfal;ren  werce.     Unb  eö  foil  bie  ^flidjt  ber  obrigfettlicl}en  *4>evfon  fein,  ....  einen 

iöonb  JU  forbcrn jum  ^betrage  »ou  einljunbert  Dollar^  ©elbjlrafe ober 

ben  @cl;ulbigen  in  bag  @ounti;=®efängni^  ju  überliefern.  Unb  ferner  foil  cö  bie 
!j5iiid)t  ber  obrigfeitlidjen  ^erfon  fein,  irgenb  eine  Sluflage  wegen  SSerlc^ung  bicfer 
Slfte  anjune^mcn,  bie  Pon  irgenb  Senunben  eiblid;  gefd}iel;t,  unb  fofort  einen  SöavraHt 
auöjufiellen. 

Stnmcrfung.  2)iefe  58eftimmungen  be,jie^n  fid)  fowo^l  auf  ben  Sonntag  al^  auf 
bie  aBerftage,  unb  geben  bie  5ü0ü  am  ©onntag  offenjie^enbe  ©d;enfplä^e  an,  beren 
feiner  Sicenj  l}at. 

3.  @e)c^e  »ou  1857,  Äav.  628,  welche  ben  ©onntagglwnbel  ou^ 
bec  lijenjirten  33erfäufec  »erbieten. 

§  21.  Äcin  Snljaber  eineiS  aBirt^äi;aufc:3,  einer  ©djenfe  ober  eineä  ©aßbofö,  ober 
3emanb,ber  Siccuj  tjat,  ©etränfe  ju  »erlaufen,  foil  beraufd}enbe  ©eträufe  ober  SBeine 
«m  ©onntag,  oocr  an  irgenb  einem  2^age,  an  bem  eine  allgemeine  ober  befonbcre  2Ba^l 
ober  5öejirfi2i;33evfammlung  (towa-meeting)  fiattfinbet,  innerl)alb  einer  53iertclmcile 
»on  bem  Orte,  wo  fold;e  allgemeine  ober  bcfonbere  3Bal;l,  ober  93cjirf«3»crfammlung 
in  irgenb  einer  ©tabt,  Sorf  ober  QBejivt  biefeö  ©taateö  gel^alten  wirb,  an  irgenb  3e- 
manben,  wer  eö  and)  fei,  alö  ©ctrdnf  »erlaufen  ober  »erfdjenfen.  ^atlö  bie  SBa^l 
ober  58e^irfö:93erfammtung  nid}t  allgemein  burd)  ben  ganjen  ©taat  l)iu  gefdjie^t, 
follen  bie  93ejiimmungeu  biefeö  9lbfd;nittö  nur  auf  biejentge  Btabt,  (Sountp,  S)orf 
ober  SBe^iif  Qluweufung  leiben,  in  beneu  foldje  a3at)l  ober  53ejirfe<a3crfammlung 
fiattfinbet.  20er  immer  bie  Seftimmungen  biefeö  Slbfcf)nittci3  übertritt,  foil  ali3  eineiS 
33ergel;eni3  (misdemeanor)  fdjulbig  angefel)n,  unb  iiadjbcm  er  überwiefen  i|i,  i« 
(Süuuti)=®cfängnif,  5lrbeitö()anfe  ober  ©trafgefängni^  nic^t  mel;r  aU  jwanjig  2:a9e 
gefangen  fi^en. 

4.  2}ie  9}^ett:ovo(itani^o(ijeü3(ftc   bcftimmt:     [©efe^c  üon  1857, 

^ap.  569.] 
§  21.    (So  foil  Dliemanbcn  gefe^lic^  erlaubt  fein,  irgenbwelc^c  beranfdjenbe  @C# 


18    iDcr  ©onntaggl^anbel  mit  beraufc^enben  ©ettdnfeu, 

tranfc  am  ciftcn  ilag  tcv  SDcdje,  genannt  ©onntag,  ober  an  ivgenb  einem  öf|cnt(id)cn 
lÖal)Uage,  iniicifjalb  beö  befagten  S)Jctvüpülitan=^4)ülijci=53ciirfö  öftc"tltcl)  ju  l)c;teQ 
cbev  feiljubicten,  unter  einer  ©clbfirafe  »on  fünfjig  2)o((arö  fiir  jcbc  Uebertrctung; 
unb  eö  foil  bc()ufö  ®injiel)ung  biefcr  ©elbftrafe  Jllagc  eingelegt  werben  im  Dkmcnbcö 
ffloUö  beö  ©taated  9tew=ä)or'!  bind)  bcn  5i3cjirtö-.2lttc»nici)  bcä  (Sonnti;,  in  raeld}em  bie 
Ucbcrtvetiing  begangen  twrben  ijl,  jnm  S3eficu  beg  Police  Contingent  Fnnd.  Unb  e3 
feU  bie  *]>rlid)t  ber  ^;potijei=53e()crt)e  fein,  bie  93eftimmungen  biefeS  3tbfd)nitt3  ftrengc 
burd;jufül)ren,  burd)  angcmeffene  93efet)te  ju  biefcm  3»e(fe» 

5.  2)te  ftäbtif^e  SSerorbnung  »on  1855  fe^t  feft: 

§1.  «Kenn  irgeub  Semanb  tu  ber  ©tabt  9letv=g)LH-f  SBein,  9l(e,  SagerBier  übet 
anberc  fiarfe  über  fpirituöfe  ©etränfe  im  Älcinljanbel  \)ertauft  über  überliefert,  ober 
julä^t,  bap  fijein,  2l(e,  Sagerbier  cber  anbere  ßarfe  ober  fpirituöfe  ©etränfe,  bie  ocn 
i^m  fü  »erfauft  ober  überliefert  werben  fiub,  in  feinem  ^aufe,  Dlcbenljaufe,  ©arten 
ober  fonftigem  ©ruubeigentbum  irgenbweld)er  Slrt,  getrunfen  »erben,  ül;ne  gefe^lic^ 
licenrirt  ju  fein,  über  weniv  Semanb,  ber  fo  liceufut  ifi,  iulägt,  bag  fflein,  5llc,  Sager= 
bier  über  anbere  ftarfe  cber  fpirituöfe  ©etränfe,  bie  in  oorbefagter  3Beife  \)erfauft  über 
überliefert  fuib,  am  crften  SJage  ber  aBod;e,  genannt  ©onntag,  in  Dürbefagter  SBeife 
getrunfen  »erben,  aufgenommen  oon  Äüftgängeru  unb  bei  Um  Sogirenben  über  wirf= 
lid)en  SReifenben,  innerf)alb  ber  ^Beftimmungen  bcö  ©cfe^cö,  fo  feil  er  fi'ir  jebe  foldje 
UebertretiMig  ben  f)ievnad}  benannten  ©trafen  nnb  ©trafgelbcrn  verfallen  fein. 

§§  2-4.  S)iefe  ^aragrav^fien  bejlimmen,  bap  cä  bie  5l5flid;t  jeber  obrigfeitltd)eu 
?Perfon  fein  foil,  auf  gcfci)et)ene  Älage  wegen  93erle^ung  irgenb  eineef  %i}(i[6  bed  erfteu 
Stbfdjnitteä,  unb  auf  fiattgeljabten  93e»eiö  ober  ©ejtänbnig,  ben  Uebertreter  cinc^ 
S3crge()cne(  fd}utbig  ju  erflären,  unb  if)m  für  jebe  foldje  @d)u(bigevfläruiig  eine  ©elbfirafr 
ton  nid)t  über  je()n  ©ollarö  aufjulegen,  unb  wenn  er  biefclbe  nid)t  be^afjlen  fann,  ibn 
für  einen  3citraum  üon  nid)t  md)x  alö  einem  S^ag  für  jcbeu  Sollar  ber  fo  aufcrlcgtcu 
©ettiftrafe  gefangen  ju  fc^eu.  Stile  auf  foldje  aöeifc  eingejcgcnen  ©eiber  aber  follcu 
an  baei  2lrmcnl}auö=2)ei3artement  befjufö  Unterftü^ung  ber  3lrmeu  ber  ©tabt  auöbe-- 
jal)(t  werben. 

Slnmerfung.  Stuö  Dbigem  gefjt  Ijersor,  bag  jeber  ©onntagsJinnfauf  bcranfdjenber 
©etränfe  eine  Uebertretung  uou  wenigftenö  nier  ©efe^^ien  ift:  nämlid)  ihmi  ^cn  ©efc^en 
Wiber  allen  ©onntagtS^anbet;  bcnen  gegen  nid)t  liccnfirten  2ßcrfauf  beraufdjenber 
©etränfe;  ber  aJictropontan=5ßplijei:3lftc  üon  1857,  unb  ber  fiäbtifrijcn  a3ercrbnun^ 
öon  1855. 


-•■ — • — ■•- 


'ätiM  ou*?  ^J?cti)=9)orfer  Leitungen,  bie  Soiintnö^fraj^c  Bctrcffciib. 


3luö  bem  Journal  of  Commerce  »om  5.  3uni. 

®cutfche  3tccn  un6  ©fgentftfitnlichrcitcn. 

3!)ie  ^been  uno  @igentf)ünilid)fcitcn  ber  g)anfcc''J(  (Yankee  notions)  flnb  fpvüdjwört; 
tid)  geworben,  (iß  giebt  aber  ebeufowoljl  beutfdje  3been  unb  CS'igentbümlid); 
feiten.  (Sinige  barunter  fiiib  gut,  anbere  liegen  in  ber  iliitte  jwifd)cn  gut  unb  fdjlec^t, 
nod)  anbere  finb  entfd)ieben  fd)led)t.  9ßenu  biefelben  ftd)  ju  etwaö  wirtlid)  Sööfem 
geflalten,  fo  muffen  fte  bcfämpft  werben,  fowo(;l  jum  heften  berer,  bie  fie  l;egeii,  alö 
um  beö  üffentlidjcn  Sßo^leö  willen. 


5)er  ©onnta9§I)anbcImit6crauf(^enbcn  @etranfcn.    19 

©ie  warmc  ?^reif)eit^(iebf,  hjclc^e  altjcit  t>cn  bcutfc^cn  ©tammc^enoffcn  eigen  ge^tc 
fen  ift,  mad}t  fie  für  9lmerifa  ioo(}lgeeignet.  2)ei-  glei§  unb  bie  ©pavfamfeit,  tie  fidj 
ge»cl)iUid)  untev  il)iien  fiubeit,  lä§t  unö-in  i^nen  einen  iDillfornmencn  3n^vact}ö  unfe= 
rer  fflcuölfctung  evbücfen.  ilntec  guten  (Sinfiiiffcn,  befontcv^  wenn  füc  unter  tcr 
amerifanifrl}eu  Jöeoölterung  gct}ijvig  ücvt^eil't  ftnb,  fo  bag  bcr  ©tvcm  i()veö  Sebcuö  fid) 
mit  bem  unfern  eint,  werben  ftc  unfere  fdjä^barjlen  93iirger,  unb  verbieneu,  uiaö  il;nen 
aud)  ju  S'()eil  lüirb,  groge  2ld)tung. 

"^        '"'    ■"    '  ""  ■        "■        ■^-  ---r <--.- ^  w.-.  rj.f.j^.i.n.._  "••■--itpj,,, 

eifel= 
euro; 
fteteu 

.,.„v.....,v"  0"  ' V  —>•• ,..,.,„,.-..  ^ ,  ...  ,..., r  bcn 

©cutfdjcn'finben,  in  cr{]iij()te  iftjätigfcit  unb  Jtraft  fe|,en,  foinerbeu  bicfelben  gauj  a\u 
bere  Sieute,  auf  bie  l^infort  fein  93crlag  mef^r  ift.  ©er  Unterfd}ieb  ber  Spradje,  bct 
fie  ijon  ben  bilbeuben,  ijieilfamen  (iinpiiffen  fernfjatt,  »cld)e  beftänbig  auf  bie  cuglifd) 
rcbenbe  SBeuijlferung  einw>irten,  mad)t  bie  ®cfaf)r  um  fo  grijgjer. 

2)cr  b)llid}e  ^ijeil  unfcrer  ©tabt  nimmt  mit  rafd)eu  fcd^ritten  einen  bentfrf)cn 
(S^arafter  an.  2)te  ciifte  unb  fiebeujefjute  nebft  nod)  einigen  anbern  Sarbö  ent()alten 
bereit»^  me{)r  !l>eutfd)e  alö  bie  mciften  großem  Stäbte  2)cutfd)lanb'»3  felbft.  (So  »oirb 
begfjalb  für  unä  immer  h5id)tiger,  bie  unter  itjuen  (jerrfc^enben  9lufid)ten  ju  feunen 
unb  i()r  ^Berf^ältnig  i;u  unferen  ©efe^cn  unb  ©eirofjn^^eiten  ju  erörtern.  (So  ift  fd)on 
oon  üorn  therein  ju  erwarten,  bag  wir  einerfeitö  ä)tand)eö  üon  i^nen  lernen,  anberfeitö 
i()nen  einige  wid}t!gc  Sctjren  geben  fijnueu. 

Unfere  bciberfeitigen  9lnjtcl)ten  üom  Sonntag  gc^en  febenfaKö  weit  auöetnanbcr. 
Uu3  ift  ber  Sonntag  ein  gctteiJbienfttidjcr,  ber  9itul)C  unb  2lnbad}t  gcwibmeterJ'ag. 
!Die  gcwöfinnd)cn  @efd}äfte  ftcf)eu  ftif(,  bie  fonft  üblid)en  93crgnügungen  werben  bei 
Seite"  gcfcBt.  'Ji^ir  beftimmcn  (Sinen  Xüq  unter  ficben  ju  fc>rperlid)cr  9taft  unb  geifti: 
ger  (Srl)ebuug.  Unfere  (Sefe^e  nötijigen  ben  9lrbeitgebcr,  baö  aKgcmeine  9(nred)t  bcr 
arbciteuben  jltaffen  auf  biefe  @abe  bco  Jj^immelö  ju  c()ren.  Unb  nid)t  nur  ba(3,  fie 
geben  nod}  einen  Sd)ritt  weiter  unb  oerbiubern,  ebcnfa((3  im  3ntcrc|te  bcö  9lrmen, 
bag  fein  fauer  üerbienter  3Bod)en(of}n  in  bie  !£afd)e  beS  2Birti)cö  gctjc,  unb  fein  ein.^is 
ger  Kuf^etag  i()m,  feiner  j^'ini'^ie  "'ib  feiner  weiteren  Umgebung  ein  %l\id)  werbe. 
53ei  bcn  S)eutfd)eu  ()ier  ,^n  l'aubc  ift  bagegcn  bcr  Sonntag  ein  Xaq  bctS  finnlic{)en  ®t: 
nnffci^,  ber  S!ag  für  *l>ifnifi^,  (Srcurftoncn  jn  ffiaffer  unb  ju  :^aube,  c'ffcntlid)e  S)jie(e, 
lärmenbe  iüiuftf,  S^anj,  £l)eatcr:93orftc((ungen,  9l((e^  im  (Selcit  gaujer  Ströme  H,a-. 
gerbier  ober  nod}  ftärferen  (5)etränfecs,  je  nad)bem  ber  äJtagen  unb  ber  (55elbbeutel  ti 
julägt. 

2Bir  woficn  unö  nid}t  babei  auff)a(tcn,  bie  9lid)tig!eit  biefer  jwei  fo  iicrfd)iebenar; 
tigcn  Sluffaffungcn  be^  SonutagsS  nä()er  ,^u  erörtern.  (Sine  einzige  Stefte  aui^  einent 
bicfigeu  bcutfd)cn  581atte  wirb  jeigen,  bag  wir  bie  Sac^e  rid)tig  targcftcllt  f)aben.  ©er 
,,1)cniofrat"  vom  oorigen  Sonnabenb  fagt :  ,,ffiir  b^iben  Sommergärten  unb  Som^ 
mert()eatcr ;  aber  nod)  lange  nid)t  genug,  ©ampfboote  unb  (Sifenba[)nen  muffen 
Sonntags  erft  2!aufeube  l)inanstragcu  in'^  ^rtic;  Wlwiii  unb  San^  unter  grünen 
©änmcn  müiTen  ertönen,  Wobin  man  ftd)  wenbet;  i'iberad  Suft  unb  Veben  unc  ^■rcut'C, 
unb  bann,  3l)r  .öerren  SBaffcrftnipct,  ftccft  (Sure  Olafen  in  bie  Sd)navp3fpeüinfcn,  bie 
(Suer  frommes  4?crj  je^t  fo  erbittern  mad;en,  ^i)x  werbet  fie  leer  ftnbeu  ;  aber  nid)t 
früber." 

(iä  will  unö  bcbüufen,  baS  f)ier  angegebene  5DtittcI,  bie  Sdmavvofpcluufen  leer  ^n 
mad)en,  würbe  ba,^u  dienen,  anbcre  9lnftaltcn  ricn  gfeidier  2!enbcn^  um  fo  mcl)r  ju 
füllen  ;  nur  bag  bicfelben  weiter  ab  in  bie  33orftäbtc  bini^nörücfen  unb  unfern  OJacl): 
barn  läugo  bcß  JDubfon-.§lu(fC'3  unb  t>er  93al)  eine  fleine  ''^robe  eines  nad)  bcm  iDiotto 
,,rjmmcr  luftig!"  gefeierten  3iew>:5)orfer  beutfd)en  Sonntagö  gcwäl)rcn  würben.  So 
»icl  aber  ift  gcwig,  bag  ein  gebräiigtoollcö  l*agcrbicr--!Sl)cater  in  tuT  i^oiocrl)  ober 
Sicrtcn  Strage  alien  aiibcrn  unreinen,  fd)lcd)t  gelüfteten,  bie  (^^cfun^bcit  luHiicrbenben 
Crtcn  in  ber  iBclt  ben  9Liug  abläuft,  ©er  33orwanb,  bem  ©efalbabereincS  Sd)Warj-. 
reifes  ober  eines  brunftigen  (53ebctbüd)(cinS  jn  entgcben,  um  an  fold)cn  £}rtcn  ,,(Srl)o» 
hing"  jn  finbcn,  ift  bal)cr  ein  ebcufo  banbgreiftid)er  Unfinn,  als  wenn  5cmanb  «om 
g?roabwal)  binweg  nad)  ßf)erri)ftr.  eilen  Würbe,  in  ber  9lbftd)t,  bort  eine  reinlidjere 
Strage  an.^utreffen. 

©od),  bie  %x<.iQi  nad)  bcr  Sflid)tigfcit  biefer  5ln(td)tcn  bei  Seite  —  wcldjc  9liiftd)t 


20    2)et@onntag3^anbe(mitberaufc^cnben®ettänfcn. 

foH  bei  un«  gelten  ?  SBel^c  f)at  gcfdjid^tlid^  ftd^  fo  ImäUt,  ba§  fie  geredete  5lnfvni^e 
auf  ©eltung  tjat?  ®ä  ifijeDcnfall^  3et»if_/  ba§  bec  Sevfiic^,  ben  mir  mm  einbikJ  jwet 
3a^rf)unberte  (ang  mit  unfevem  aiueiifanifc^n  Sonntag  gemadjt  ^ben,  bie  iHnfjäug^ 
liAfcit  unfercö  SSolteö  on  bie  wefentlic^eu  ©vunblagenbicfcr  tt)o(;ltt)ätigen  (Einrichtung 
niä)t  gefd)wäd^t  ^at.  äßir  ^aben  nod)  feine  Urfad/e  gcfunben,  feinen  l)eilfamen  läins 
flup  auf  Äijrper  unb  ®ei)t,  auf  bie  ©ittlid;feit  unb  bae  öffentlid;c  Üöoi^i  in  3»eifel  ju 
jieljeu;  unb  in  Solge  beffen  il)u  ju  bcfcitigen.  Unfcr  nationaieiS  geben  i(]  fo  getieften 
unb  fo  evjlavft,  ba§  cö  SJüilionen  Ü)icnfd;en  axi&  bcn  Säubern,  in  bcnen  am  «Sonutag 
„Sujl  unt>  Seben  unb  greube"  f)errfd;t,  Ijicdjet  ge,^ogen  ^at.  Ölud)  ift  uu^  niri;t  be^ 
faunt,  ba§  man  unter  iDtufif  unb  Zan^,  bie  im  ©djatten  griiner  53änmc  ertönen,  bie 
Saf)n  jur  erfe^nten  j^rei^eit  in  jenen  Säubern  mit  CSrfolg  eingefd)lageu  I)ättc,  »IBir 
üerweifen  {)icrbei  auf  eine  ©teile  in  Jpadam,  n)eld)e  ba()iu  lautet,  bafj  bie  *|jotitif  be^^ 
potifd)er  J^errfd;er  allzeit  barauf  gcrid)tct  gewefcn  fei,  bie  Suft  an  ä?crgniignngcn 
unb  ©cniiffen  in  bcn  93ölfern  ju  beföibern,  weilbaa  fie  üom  *Jlad)bcufen  über  politifdje 
unb  OteligiouiS-.'gragen  abl^altc  unb  jtc  in  fold^er  äöcife  auf[)citerc,  bajj  fie  il)rcu  Srucf 
nid^t  fiU/len.  (So  fd^eint  bemnad),  ba§,  wcnu  eine  freie  Siegieruugeiform  bei  uuij  fort; 
beiielien  fo((,  eä  fldjercr  ifi,  jtd)  au  ben  Slnferpla^  ju  Ijalten,  ben  bie  eiu,^igen  freien 
Sölfer  auf  (Srben  junerläffig  befunben  t)aben,  aiß  in  ©ee  ju  ge()en  uub  Sagerbier  jur 
@d)iplabung,  bcn  Sonntag  jum  5lbfat)rtdtag  uub  baö  33erberbcn  jum  3iel  ber  galjrt 

ju  cvwätjlen.  

Stu3  bem  Sounial  of  Commerce  »om  ll  3nni. 

!Der  ,,'3)emofrat"  unb  bie  „Staatöjeitung"  fc^einen  ben  feftcn  2üi(len  ju 

Ifaben,  bie  5Jlbfid}t  ber  ^^ctitiou  über  ben  ©cnntagöbanbel  mit  beraufdjenbeu  ®eträn-. 

fen  nid)t  ^u  nerfteljen ;  fie  fabrcn  fort,  bie  ganje  @ad)e  unrid;tig  bar^^uftellen 

Sie  SRebafteure  biefcr  5i3lätter  füllten  jcbori)  bie  feljr  bebeutfame  Stjatfadjc  bead^tcn, 
bag  üüu  unferm  !Du^enb  taglidjer  Seitungeu,  bie  in  engtifd;cr  @prad)e  erfd^einen, 
uic^t  eine  cinjige  gewagt  l)at,  bie  Q3illigfeit  .beö  in  ber  *)Jetitiou  au^.^fprodiencn  53e'. 
gel;renä,  baf?  bie  beitebcnben  ®efe^e  i)eröffentlid;t  unb  auägcfiU)rt  »erbeu,  in  3weifel 
JU  jicljen.  ©ogar  ber  ,,4ieratb",  »ctd)en  ber  ,,2)emofrat"  at'3  ,,träftigen  93ertl;eibis 
ger  ber  unä  angeboreucii  StedHc"  anfiUjrt,  Ijat  biefelbc  nidjt  beftritten.  ffiaö  für 
i^ebler  unfcre  Saget^neffe  fjnft  and)  baben  mag,  feine  Seitung  unb  feine  Partei  I^at 
Suft,  il;ren  gutcniHuf  babu«-d)  auf'sJ  @piel  ju  fe^en,  bap  fte  bem  2lufrul;r  unb  SSetä 
brcd}en  baö  öBort  rebet. 

2)ie  ältcftcn  wie  bie  jüngfien  ©efe^c  alter  nnfrcr  ©taaten  —  mit  ein  ober 

jwei  5lui^nal)men,  bte  aui5  bem  Sßorwiegeu  beö  fran.^oftfi^cn  unb  fpanifd^en  (Slementd 
l)crriil)rten  —  l)aben  bie  9lotl)»eubigteit  eine^  »ijd^entltdjen  ülubetageö  für  iDlcnfd, 
unb  äJiel)  anerfanut.  ©ie  ^aben  bcn  erjlen  Xa^  ber  aöod;e  in  33ejiel)ung  auf  geiuöljns 
lid)e  5lrbeiten  unb  ©elbfontrafte  bel^aubelt,  aiä  fei  er  gar  nid)t  ba.  ©ie  (;aben  gcs 
fucl)t,  bem  9lrbeitcr,  fowo^l  bem  fdjwarjen  wie  bem  »eigen,  bem  leibeigenen  wie  bem 
freien,  alöbann  ein  rut)igei5  SUbembolen  ju  ftd)ern.  ©ie  ^aben  bem  Kapital  geboten: 
bu  follft  Dlicmanben  ju  jiebentägiger  Strbeit  nötl)igen,  fonbern  follß  für  bie  l'lrbcit  ber 
fcd)ij  äöcrftage  fo  «ict  ijal^lcn,  ba§  ber  Slrbeiter  ben  fiebcnten  iSag  als  gtul)ctag  bcnu^en 
fann.  ©ie  Ijaben  bcn  53raunt»ein=  unb  Sagerbier^UJertäufern  geboten :  iljr  follt  an  bem 
cin,y'geu  Stubetage  beö  5lrbeiteri5  fein  ^anbel^;9){oncpol  t;aben,  uub  follt  feineu  SBodben« 
lobn,  ber  bem  l)ungrigeu  iDhtnb  ber  ©einigen  gebort,  nid)t  in  eure  3;;afd;en  fJerfen.  2)ied 
Silleö  ()abcn  unfre  (Sjcfe^e  jeber.^eit  mit  ftetä  j^unebmenbcm  Öladjbrud  auijgefprodjen ; 
unb  nun  will  mau  uuä  auf  einmal  fagen,  bag  biefc  (SJefc^e  nnferer  a3erfaffuug  juwi^ 
ber  ftnb  unb  if;r  |tet^  ,^u»iber  waren'?  äi?er  fagt  bieö?  ©ie  fidj  mül)cube  aJlcnge,  ju 
beren  5Dol)t  jene  ®cfe^e  gegeben  würben?  ober  bie  Seute,  bereu  ©elbtlfud}t  bcn  Sir» 
men  jugleid)  feiner  9lube  uub  feinet  ©elbC'J  berauben  möd^tcn?  — 

®iefe  ®efe^e  mit  ben  in  il^nen  oerförperten  9lu(i[d)ten  bilben  einen  ebenfo 

Wcfentlidicn  "^eftanbtbeil  unferesJ  nationalen  Sebenö,  wie  bad  9iepräfentativ:©i)ftem 
ober  bie  @d)wurgcrid)te.  3a,  fie  finb  für  bie  ^■igentbümlid^feit  unb  tieffte  (SJrunbiage 
nnfercL^  nationalen  Sebenö  nod)  be3eid}nenber;  beun  fie  berübren  fowobl  unfre  mora-- 
lifd)on  aliJ  unfve  politifdjen  (5)runblagen.  35npouceau,  unfer  würbiger  frau^öftfdjer 
Sliitfämvfer  im  Sieüolntiout^friege,  ging  fo  weit,  bag  er,  nad)  langem  Slufeutbalt  bier 
im  Sanbe,  fid)  äugcrte,  ,,bag  tjon  3lllcm,  worauf  wir  als?  auf  ctwaö  und  (S"igeutbüm-. 
lic^eö  ftol,5  wären,  unfre  ©onntagdfeier  bad  ciujige  wabrfiaft  Dtationale  unb  Slmeri« 
fanifcl;e  fei;  unb  wenn  nidjt  um  anberer  Urfadjcn,  fo  l)offc  er  fd)on  um  biefcr  willen, 


!Dcr(5onntagal;anbctmitJ)craufc^cnbett©cträn!cn.    21 

ra§  wix  immci-bav  mit  ipatriotifc^er  a}cvliebe  ii)t  jugctljan  bleiben  njucbcn/'  Uni»  baä 
werben  wir.  ^at  uufcv  9iat^  bei  unfern  bcntfc^en  unb  fonfJigen  (Sin»anbcretn  trgenb 
ein  ®cwicl}t,  fo  ratfjen  tttir  i^nen,  {xdj  mit  bcm  ooUcn  unb  gleichen  2)lage  bürgerli^er 
iinb  religiijfcr  5veil;cit  ju  bcgniigen,  unter  »eldKm  unfer  93olf  fid)  eine«  ©ccei^enöer: 
freut  i}at,  baö  fein  anberetS  93clf  auf  li'rbcn  erreiri;en  wirb.  Ünb  »vir  ratfjcn  i^nen 
ferner,  biejenigen  aus5  l>er  alten  ffielt  flammenben  l'iebl)abereien  unö  ©emot^n^eiten 
aufjugcbeu,  ir»elcl)e  bort  3wangö  =  9iegierungen  nct^iBenbig  gemacht  t;aben  unb 
ein  ®Ieict)eö  ()icr  t[)un  ««erben,  u-enn  (Sigenmadjt,  ©efe^lcftgfeit  unb  ^rreligion  un= 
jlere  njcife  unb  glücfUc^e  ©efe^eösSÄeg  terung  umwerfen. 


2luö  ber  yim^'^oxta  Stactöjcüuno  t»o»n  3i-  2Jiai. 
©onntagögcfe^«  Petitionen. 

^etitionäformutare,  bie  fircnge  93efc(gnng  bcö  fünften  5lbfc^nttte3  bet  ajietro^jolta 
tan  *4Jctijei=2tfte  oerlangenb,  circuUren  wieber.  öinö  in  bentfc^et  Ueberfe^ung  tarn 
auä)  unö  jur  -^anb.  — "^äBir  emj^fe^Ien  bie  Unterjeidjnung  btefer  petition  nic^t  unb 
ratzen  entfc^iecen  baüon  ah. 

©iefcr  ^aragrapl^  fünf  fjaubcU  befanutlic^  Dom  ©onntag^gefe^e.  S)ie  *)Jetit:on 
nimmt  befonberij  Dtitcffid^t  auf  ben  ä5cvfauf  beraufd}cuber  ©etränfe,  —  fie  ifi  eine 
il'cmpcrcnjr^^etition.  —  (So  fällt  unö  lüdjt  bei,  junt  Ungc^orfam  gegen  be)lel}enbe 
@efc|e  aufzureihen,  aber  ebcnfowenig  fann  eä  un3  in  ben  ©inu  fommen,  einer  ^ewe: 
gung  ju  ®uuflen  i^ou  ©cfe^en,  benen  wir  il)re  conßitutionelle  ©iiltigfeit  fietö  beftrit- 
ten,  bae!  3Bcrt  ju  retten. 

äßir  l)alten  bie  Srunffudjt,  werbe  fie  öffentlid)  ober  fjcimlid)  befricbigt,  für  ein  Sa-- 
fier,  gel)i>ren  and)  nid)t  ju  denjenigen,  wcld)e  einen  ©onntagöraufd)  für  berechtigter 
galten  ais  bcu  'iBod}entag'3raufc^ ;  aber  2llteö,  tvci^  im  3ntcrcffe  beö  S^cmpercnjprinji^ 
pei  gcfd)ie()t,  befämpfenwir  al^  Sorurt^eil,  alö  iDiucferei,  alö  Vclitifd)e  Jlapitalma- 
d)erci.  3Ser  ben  ciratlirenben  Petitionen  feineu  91amen  beifügt,  untcrfdjreibtallbiefe 
S3orurtl)eile  unb  nimmt  alö  (S'iugcwanberter  ben  3!emperenjfanatifern  gegenüber  bei^ 
läufig  biefeibe  (Stellung  ein,  in  weldjer  ftc^  ein  für  ben  ^^aragrapl)  3»öif  petitioniren^ 
ber  5(boptiwbürgcr  befänbe;  —  benn  es  wirb  in  bem  ISirculare  anöbrücfüci^  bed 
(äingcwanberten,  at3  f)cr»orragenben  ©onntagö^Stttentätcra  gebad)t. 

Sie  3rrtl)ümer  unb  2öi(lfürlid)feiten,  weld)e  barin  liegen,  bie  curopäifcfee  9lrt  ber 
©onntagsfeier  mit  ber  3unal)me  beö  S3crbred)enö  unb  ^isauperisJmuä  in  3nfnnimen: 
I)ang  ju  bringen,  l;aben  wir  fc^on  genügenb  befprcc^cn.  ®cn  SSerfaffern  ber  ^Petition, 
weld}e  ftd}  auf  bie  (Scnutagömanifefie  üerfd)iebenfr  ©ranbjurorö  berufen,  gilt  biefeibe 
ffliberlegung,  weld}e  bie  argumentation  bcr®ranbjurorö  ibrer  3eit  yon  unferer@eite 
crfaliren.  2Bir  Ijaben  bamalö  bnrd)  3a^len  nad^gewiefen,  ba^  bie  3unaf)me  ber  93er: 
Haftungen  am  (Sonntage  uid}t  üon  einer  wirfüd)en  93erme^rung  unfittlid;er  ^anblun; 
gen  ficvrülne,  fouberu  uon  ber  !Jl)atfad}e,  ba§  burd)  baö  S)letropolitan:^]}olijeigefe^ 
eine  neue  ®attung  ungcfe^tidjcr  |)anblungen  gefd)affcn  Würbe. 

Um  ben  ®eift,  in  weld)em  bie  petition  abgefaßt  ifl,  ju  c^arafteriftren,  lieben  wti 
bloö  folgcnbe  (Stelle  t}erocr :  ,, Unb  wir  beljaupten:  and)  uufere  freien  ^nftitutionen 
fönnen  babei  nid)t  befieljen,  inbem  if)r  ©ebeifien  unb  i^rc  (Srl)a(tung  pon  ber  öffentli; 
d)en  Slnerfennung  ber  je^n  ®ebcte  unb  ber  ©runbicljren  beö  neuen  S^efiomentö  ab: 
l;ängt." 

3wei  fünfte  be3  Gircularö  fc^eiucn  uns  aber  por  äffen  anbern  unbegreiflich.  (Bx-- 
jlenö,  wie  ein  fo  frommeä  ©ofument  gfeid)  in  aflem  9lnfangc  ben  materiellen  ®rnnb, 
bie  (Sinfünfte  ber  ©tabt  burc^  baö  93c|^ef)en  uid)t  licenftrter  iBirtl)fd)aften  beeinträd); 
tigt  ju  feben,  gcltenb  mad)en  fann  —  alö  ob  baä  ©ünbcngelb  für  »ertorcne  ©eelen 
bem  ftäbtifd)en  ©cf)a|,e  ©egen  bringen  fönne  —  unb  j^weitcui?,  wie  gute  (Sf^riften  bie 
®cttgefälligfeit  ibrcr  ä)iitmenfd}en  yen  ^>ro^ubitisgcfe|en,  ron  ber  pl)pfifd)eu  Unmög= 
lidjfeit,  bem  Safier  ^u  fröl)ncii,  abfjängig  mad)en  unb  ber  (;ffcntlid)en  2)cciat  babnrcf^ 
ibre  wat;rc  2öei^e,  nämlid)  bie  freiwillige  ^Ibfiinenj,  rauben  fönnen.=* 

*  Xai  iil  gcrabe  fo  gerebet,  luie  rcenn  man  fagcn  mürbe:  bie  freiwiDigc  (Sntfialtuag  »on  bcrUjt- 
fcufd)6cit  ifl  bie  roatjre  SBeifee  ber  (S^e.folflüd)  rauben  alle  9>vo!)ibiti»gefefe  gegen Unteufdjbeit  unb  (Sfje- 
brud)  ber  &t  ii)ve  xea\)tt  SOet^e.  DCer :  ?!roI)il)iti»9efe^e  gegen  Siebiiatl  rauben  ber  (S:!)rlui)feit  i^ri 
wafere  äBeil^e. 


22    !Der6onntag§fjanbctm{tbcraufd)cnben©ctränfen. 

Stuö  bcm  ^m=^otitt  2)cmo!rat  »om  30.  3Jiai. 
©cr!£ag  beö  <§errn. 

2Bie  bie  St^cfAjc  im  ©umvifc  uon  3cit  ju  Seit  '^ic  .Köpfe  cmpcvfirccfen,  nnb  bitrd) 
ffir  me[obifcl)eö  ©equafc  bie  (aufct}enbcu  l'iifte  cvquirfcii,  um  brtim  ivtebet  in  iljt 
»äjyciig  fiimpftgei5  (ilemcnt  juvüff^ufinfcn,  fo  verteil  audj  bicSünntagöfjcilicicn  ab  unb 
^u  ausj  rem  'eiimpf  iljveä  Jliidieiiglaubenö  bie  .Köpfe  in  bie  ffielt  (jinein  unb  quafen  : 
„.ryeiligi  bcii  Sabbatl)  !  (£ct)äubet  nicl}t  bcn  Sing  bcö  .^cnn !"  (Sin  folctjeö  Srofc^^ 
concert  ift  am  Freitag  9!ad)mittag  üov  bcn  ^^ülijciconimipren  aufgefüljvt  »üiccn, 
benen  eine  ©clcgaticn  vm  §vüfd}fcpfen  ein  äliemcvanbnm  übevveid)te,  in  U>e'd)em 
feicvlid)ft  gegen  bcn  33cvFaiif  vcw  beranfd}cnben  ©etviinfcn  am  ©cnntag  pvotcftirt  nnb 
bie  5lnfved}Ü)altung  uub  Snvd)fiUjvnng  bei-  ©onntageigefe^c  pevlangt  UMVt>.  ©ie 
,,3;!imei5"  nennt  niitev  ben  Delegaten  and)  jwei  bentfd)C  'gvöfd)c,  iDfoller  unb  9(iied)er, 
bod)  follcnncd;  mel)icrc  babei  gcwefcn  fein.  ?lm  ©onnabenb  fam  nnö  eine  bentfdie 
^iUtiticm  ,^n,  bie  Untevfri)iiften  ju  cbigem3weife  jufanimcn  fammcln  foK.  ^ülgcnbcr 
5paifng  btene  jnr  ö()aroftci-trtif  bevfelben  :    (.»pier  folgt  bei"  ©djlnp  bcr  4>ctition.) 

©aö  gebt  i'ibei  bie  t^'föfdjc ! 

SDod),  ibv  ■Oevren  bct^  Sabbatbö,  ein  SBovt  im  (Srnf^e!  SBarnm  finb  bie  Jlneipen, 
unb  jwar  bie  gemcinfteu,  am  Sonntag  überfüllt?  aßaruni  fmb  bie  5Bcrbred)cn  am 
gcnntag  böuftger  alö  an  anbtrn  !Eagen  ?  ®te(;cn  nid)t  biefclben  Jlncipcn,  biefelben 
S;i)eater  aud)  an  jcbcni  andern  S^agc  offen? 

5l)t  fcib|1  tragt  bie  ©d)nlb  baran  mit  euren  pcrfteinerten  S^onntagägcfe^en.  3)cr 
Slrbciter,  bcr  bie  iücd)e  l}inbnrd)  füd)  fdjwer  abgcmü()t  f)at,  will  einen  'taa,  bcr  (Srtjo- 
lung  babcn  ;  nnb  bicfc  ©rbolnng  irivb  ibm  I)ier  abgefd)nitten  ;  ea  iftnid)t  jercr  JDienfc^ 
fo  ftin'fjifd}artig,  bafi  er  feine  (S"vl)clnng  fid)  auö  bem  ©efalbaber  eineö  igdjUHirjrorfea 
ober  anö  bem'  brunftigen  ®ebetbüd)lcin  l)olcn  iönnte.  3)ie  enge  2ßcrt|latt  »erlangt 
ben  ©cgcnfag,  bcr  fielen  Statur,  ber  3wang  bcr  Slrbeit  briingt  jur  Ungebnnbcnl;eit. 
®nt  beiin  ;  fo  gebt  bicfeni  natürlid)en  ©range  eine  freie  9tid)tung,  unb  ber  Sonntag 
fttirb  ein  fTag  ber  j'ircubc,  nid)t  be(?  i.'af}ere(  loerben. 

.giabcn  bicbcntfd)cn  -perren,  wcld)e  bie  *45ctition  entworfen (jaben,  jemalö einen  beuts 
fd)cn  Sonntag  gcfel)cn?  .§aben  fie  gefcljcn,  wie  in  frohem  ®cwül)le  fidjadcö  j^uben 
$!l)orcn  t)inauöbrängt?  3n  j'jn^c  nnb  jn  Üßagen,  jn  2öaffer  unb  yt  ^anb.  J^ier  wirb 
gctanjt  nnb  gi-fpielt,  gcfcgelt  nnb  gefnngen,  unb  bie  ^Jjolijei  ftcljt  müfjig,  fie  l}at  nidjtö 
jiu  tt)un ;  benn  bie  gebotene  greil^eit  bcr  lSrf)olung  ift  bie  fid;er|te  ©d;ranfe  gegen  bie 
Ucbcrtretnng. 

2)al)in  wirb  nnb  muf;  eö  and)  i;icr  fommen,  tro^  allem  Dnafen  ber  SBaffcimänncr ; 
jeber  JTag  bringt  95ortfd)ritt  in  btefcr  33cjicl)nng  unb  alles?  tjarmonifdje  Dinficiven  auö 
ben  Sumpfgegenben  ift  „für  bie  Jla|^."  iüiag  c3  bie  nnb  ba,  wo  bcr  pfäffifdje  (Sin: 
finfj  ncri)  übdwiegenb  ift,  gelingen,  für  eine  SBeilc  bie  93ernnnft  äurücfjnbrängcn,  — 
über  fid)  bevgieicijen  J^räumen  in  yjew^Sort  b'"5"9cben,  ift  iäd)erlid).  3ßir  Ijaben 
©ommcrgärten  nnb  Sommertljeatcr,  aber  nod)  lange  nid)t  genug,  ©ampfbootc 
unb  (Sifenbabncn  niüffen  ©onntagö  crft  S^anfenbe  ()inaui3tragen  in'^  Srcic;  *Diufif 
unb  Ifanj  unter  grünen  5Bänmcn  muffen  ertönen,  Wol)in  man  fid)  wenbet,  überall  ^ufl 
unb  Scben  unb  ?ireube,  unb  bann  ibr  .|3crrcn  aCaiferfimpel,  ftedt  eure  Siafen  in  bie 
©d)nappöfpelunfen,  bie  euer  frommet  <§erj  jc^t  fo  crAittern  mad)cn ;  tljr  werbet  fie 
leer  finbeuj  aber  nid)t  früljer. 

5Utö   bem   ?JclD=?)orf  (?j)Jrcf?   viom   31.   Tlai. 
S>U  bcutt'd)c  treffe  über  @onutag$flcfc<je. 

©er  ,,5)cmofrat"  fprid)t  »on  ben  ?jröfd)en,  wclcf)e  bcn  *polijeieommiiJärcn  ein  Tie- 
moranbum  gegen  ben  Überlauf  »on  beraufd)enren  ©etränfeu  am  Sonntag  überreicht 
l)ätten,  unb  ift  fcl)r  entrüftet  barüber,  bafj  and)  ,,jwci  beutfd)c  'Sröfd)c"  mit  babei  gc^ 
wcfcn  feien  ic.  (J^ierauf  folgen  mcljrere  Stellen  auö  bem  Slrtitcl  im  ,,!Demcfrat." 
©dilic^lid)  l)cij!t  ci:) 

,,Sold)'  gemeinct^  ®cfd)Wä^  ill  bie  Slntwort  auf  eine  5l5etition,  bie  nid)td  gegen 
Sonntagt3.(Srboluiigcn,  gegen  einen  5lucflug  auf'ö  l'anb  ic.  cntl)ält,  unb  l)anptjäd)lid) 
gegen  !Jrunfcnbeit  unb  Q3erlc^ung  bed  ©efcijct!  am  Sonntag  gerid)tet  ilt,  woburd)  bet 
5i)i'"M*d)en  fittlid)et<,  gefelligcei,  förpcrlid)eö  ober  pevfönlid;eö  SBoblfein  niri)t  im  ©Cj 
ringjien  geförbert,  fonbevn  nur  Sd;abcn  angerid;tet  wirb.    Sßir  wiffen  fcljt  Wof)l,  baf 


2)  c  r  ©  0  n  11 1  a  g  §  I)  a  n  b  e  t  m  i  t  b  e  r  a  u  [  d)  c  11  b  e  n  ©  e  t  r  a  n  { e  n.    23 


(egiicn. 

-2(ii(5  bcr  9^ctti=3orf  XarnS  vom  i.  5uiü. 
ü^ic  S5c'.«tfd)cn  uu&  fcer  ®ouutafl§hantcl  mit  bcraiifdicutcu  ©cträttfeii. 

yjiit  *i3cfaiiei-n  iie()mcn  wiv  »at)!-,  bag  bie  ,,Staat!3jeituiu3"  unb  iicdi  ein  cbev  jn^ci 
ant'cxc  ^cutt'cl)e  Sla^C'^blättov  iljve  Vcfcc  iu  y3etvcff  bed  .Swcitcö  ivrc  fü()i-cii,  bcii  bie 
'lU'titieu  (^(.'iicit  bcii  ©onntag-jljaubcl  mit  bcvaufclienbcii  (Sctvänfcii  ci-nrcbt.  Äciiie 
neuen  (.Mefcl3e  werben  f  aein  bcgel)rt.  .Reine  alten  Idn^ft  abgefümmencn  Ocfct^c  wcvbeu 
rtus5  beni  Staube  Iievyuigefuriit,  um  wieber  iu  Jlvaft  gefcPit  ju  uunben.  VlKe.?,  wai 
CüK  bcn  'i^clijeicümmiffävtu  üevlaugt  wire,  ift  bie  fcj'te,  gebulbige  2huifiil)iung  uon 
@efeg,en  unt  iCerorbnimgen,  bic  unter  ber  ftäbtifdteu  33eiwaUnng  i^ni  yJtai)i.H-  ÖBucß 
im  ^ün  1855,  fowie  bnvd)  bic  ©efelpgcbuug  uüu  1857  crlaffen  worben  finb,  unb  aud; 
^aiJ  nur  uad)  vergängiger  äßaruuug  ferer,  wetd^c  fie  biöl)er  übertreten  (jaben. 

iSä  ift  alp  fein  Ävenv^ng  t^er  S}ui(;igfeit3i'creiue  gegen  bie  S3ranntn)ein:93erfäufcr, 
füu^evu  taö  bifennene  iBege()ren,  gegen  ben  ungefel^lidjen  unb  cntfittlid}cnben  Scmu 
tags3l)anbeL  SdjuK  ju  er(;alten.  Unb  biefe  ?(orc>ernng  ge(;t  ausS  neu  einer  5ln,^al)l  un-. 
ferer  eüuferyativMtcn  53iirgcr,  bie  über  bie  3unal)me  ber  Steuern,  foivie  tcr  3lrmutb 
unb  bci3  5öerbrcd)enö,  bie  uadnveiöbar  mit  bem  Scnutag6:3ed)cn  ^anb  in  •iQant'  geljt, 
gcred)tc  ^cfcrgnijj  cmpftuben. 

Sind)  ift  CO!  feine,  vcu  anicrifanifdjen  ©ärgern  gemadjtc  93ewegung  ju  bem  Swcrfe, 
bie  9ied)tc  freuifgeboveiicr  ä3ürgei  ju  nerfürjen  unb  il)r  ißul^lfcin  ju  ftoreu.  2)ic  XU-- 
berreidnii-.g  bcr  englifd)Cu  ^l)etiticn  iumi  Seiten  einfilut;rcid)er  Slbgeortnctcu,  mit 
iirn.  'lUrit  an  t>cr  Spille,  gefd)a()  gieid)jcitig  mit  bcr  Uebcrrcidjnng  einer  b  e  u  tf  d}  e  u 
*4>ctittL<n,  unter  bcr  j^aljlrcidie  nnb  ad}tbare  Otamcn  ftantcn,  lum  Seiten  bcutfd)er  ^Ib^ 
gcürbnctcn,  mit  >5rn.  iDiöKcr,  einem  Wcl)ll)abeiit>cu  Suiferfabvifantcn,  an  ber  Spi^e. 
S.'aufcnt'e  uuferer  bcutfdjcn  l'Jiitbürger  cmpfinccn  baö  Sri)ätilid)e  unb  Sdjanrlidie  beö 
Scuutagei;3ed!cni3  einccS  3;'l)citc^  tljrcr  eingcuvinbcitcn  ii-aubtncutc  eben  \o  tief  uui? 
frijmerijlid)  wie  irgcnb  ein  Slmcrifaner.  3Bir  fiub  glaubhaft  ucrftdjcit  werben,  bafj, 
wenn  uinljtg,  cö  ganj  Icidjt  gewcfcn  fein  würce,  tanfcnbe  lum  bcutfd)en  OJamcu  yorju: 
Jcgen,  ^!C  gegen  riefen,  itjrcn  Dfaticnaldiaraftcr  entctjrenbcn,  uufittlidieu  unt)  uevt'crb; 
lid}cu  -öanDcl  iÜtDcrfpvud)  tl;un.  Streue  gegen  ta^i  Ocfc^  ift  ein  wcfcntlid)cr  3iig 
im  beuti'du'u  (S()arafter.  ifficnn  cö  babcr  allgemein  befannt  wirb,  (wie  cü  ^enu  eub; 
iid}  betaniu  werben  mut;,^  ba§  bie  am  Senntag  geijffneten  Üagcrbier^J'ljcatcr,  ^an^-- 
fäle  nnc-  iil;ulid}e  iDrte,  wo^3eibred}euuub  Ucbeltl)atcn  beförbert  wcrren,  jngleidi  burd) 
bic  ©cfe^c  unfercis  Staaten  unb  bie  cffeutlidie  ^.llicinnng  unferer  Slaft  gcäd^tet  fiub, 
fo  werfen  bie  S)cutfd)en  in  bem  Streben,  bic  Cbrigfeit  ,^u  nntcrftiigcn,  fclbft  voran: 
geljcn.  Sie  weiten  i()r  fjeifeu,  baf?  bcr  (&elbftfud)t  nnC>  UnoiCnnug  tcr  wenigen  Sau; 
"fente  unter  iljnen,  »elri)C  bic  ■ipabc  nnfeter  beutfrijen  äiiitbürger  uerpraffen  unti  il;reu 
guren  yjamen  fdiänbcn,  enblidj  Sd)ranten  gefefct  werben. 

S)ie  Crgauc  ber  beutjd)eu  ■"lu'cffc  in  OicwrS^Lrf  werfen  waljrlici)  bie  ^ntcreffeu  beö 
bcitfri^cn  Stamme«?,  ben  fie  certreten,  nid)t  bcferfcrn,  ucri)  beffen  (S'influg  ocvftarfcn, 
wenn  fie  burd)  l)cftigc  Stufrufe  bic  y3crurtl)eile  unfunriger  l'efer  gegen  baö  entiaileiTeuc 
Streben  ber  ejfcntlidjen  2}Jeinnng  Ölcw^JöcrfiS  iu  bereu  beften  "Xenrcn.^ui  aufl)eöcn. 
ä'Jit  ben  ceutKi)en  5lnnd)ten  Ben  ber  Sonntagi3feier  im  SUlgemeincu  liaben  wir  nfd)l^ 
HU  tl)un.  '^iUr  erlauben  unö  f^ine  pl)aiiiäifd)C,  wegwerfeuta*  \!3eurtl)eilungeu  bvi 
Sitten,  Durd)  wcld)C  fid)  bei  beutfdie  Sonntag  iwn  bem  cnglii'd.'en  niif  anierifaiiifd)Cii 
\o  auffalleuD  unterfd^eiDct.  5}erfd}iebcnc  QjolftJfiämmc  nu\gen  immerhin  in  Dicfen,  wie 
in  \o  mandicn  anbercn  ^]>unfteu  bed  äußeren  ®ottedt<ienfte>5  nnb  ber  tl;eclegifd)en  \.'el)i. 
anffaffnug  fid)  Ben  einanPcr  untcrfdH'ibcn.  Siber  Ci?  ilimnit  fel)r  Wi.'i)t  mit  ter  aniJi-jebeOur 
teftcn  Snlf famfeit,  t>ag  wir  barauf  beftebu,  ade  (ilaffen  fCö  »golfed  fi-'Ueu  ben  ÖJeKfen 
gcl)crd)en,  bic  von  feu  9tbgeorbneten  ber  gefammten  'ijcinHfi'inng  eviaffcu  werfen  ünD. 
Sie  *l'iinperbcit,  bie  (S  wagt,  bnrri)  trol^igcu  SßiberftauD  bie  1)leucr  bed  Wcfe^ed  »eu 
ber  CSrfiilUnig  il)rcr  l^flidit  ab^nljalteu  nnb  fcmit  fie  beffebeuben  Oifnungen  ter 
ftäftifclien  SJegicrung  ^n  uid;tc  jn  mad)cn,  !ann  mit  einem  cbcuio  grcijen  Üied'te  cineö 
übermütl}igen  Starrfinndbefd;ulfigt  werben,  alö  bie  iWebröcit,  weldic  jene  Orbnungen 
cufvcd)t  crl)ält.  Sagerbier-i5'rnatii3mud  oerbicut  gcwMJj  feine  böigere  Sldjtnng  aliü 
ßaltwaffcrr'janatiSmud.     SSenn  ba^er  unferc  bcntfd}eii  3citnn3en  wirflid;  meinen, 


24    2)et  6outag§I)anbcI  mit  bcraufd)cnben  ®  etränfcn 

bag  bie  aJJa^igfeiteimanner  i  Ijn  e  n  gu  nafjc  treten,  fo  fönncn  fie  fd)UicrIid}  «on  una 
begehren,  bap  wie  vu()ig  üu|"c(;cn,  \vk  \ii  bie  ganbeögefe^e  vctädjtlidj  mit  SiiOcu  treten. 

5lug  bcni  G^oiiricr  anb  ©nqittrcr  »cm  3i.  SKai. 

!Cer  9?c>t)s2)ortcr  ®onntng^J)an^cl  mit  beraufcbentcn  ©ctrniifcii. 

5ßiv  fvcucii  uiiij,  bafi  ciu  fo  tuiftigcv  unb  cvii ftev  i£d)vitt  gctl}au  uunfcii  ill,  urn  bif 
SJlcti'opolitau^^^oli.jcicommifTäic  äur  J^anDl)abung  bcr  (SJcfe^e  gegen  ben  Sonntagä: 
()aubcl  mit  beiaiifcl;eiibeu  ©ctväiifen ju  bringen.  S)ici"et  Jpaubel  bringt  beinahe,  cfet 
röllig,  fo  niel  Srunfenfjeit  junu'ge,  atä  an  ben  i'ed)ä  übrigen  Sagen  bcr  5löort)e  ^^U; 
fammen  uorFcnimt.  (ir  uerfeljrt  .'janfencen  ifjren  Dlnl;etag  in  einen  :?ag  ter  i&djivcl: 
gerei  mit  (S'lenC,  Safter  imb  iBcrbrertien  im  ©efolge.  ^efonbevö  fd)UHncn  (2d)a^en 
tbnt  cr  ten  ärmeren  iSlaiJcn,  bie  an  fiefem  i(;rem  einigen  9hi(;ctage  «m  fo  grofieren 
93erfnd;nngen  auiSgefclpt  fint».  aJiele  f,\mx  getjen  in  ben  Stempel  ©otte«?,  5lnbcre  auf'd 
Sanb  in'ö  (äriuie;  aber  wer,  ber  bie  ^tva^en  nnfcrer  <Stabt  in  ber  Sonntag-yjiittcv« 
nad;t  beobadjtet  l)at,  iceig  nid}t,  bag  Un^vä(;tigc  fid)  alöbann  einem  fo  UMiften  ©anfen 
unc  <£d}Weigcn  fjingi'Iifi,  teie  fici)'ö  nur  in  bc\-  Snnfclfjeit  ber  5^id)t  in  ,^eigen  uvigt. 
2)ort  taumelt  iSincr  allein  ba()in,  ber  wie  ein  ^BUi^finnigev  fafelt,  unp  i>'liid;c  gegen 
|!cl)fclbft  nebft  Hälterungen  auöftcigt  —  ®ebcte,  wie  fte  ju  feiner  freute  geübten  die- 
ligion  paffen.  Slnbrc  jieljen  in  toller  9lu3gclaffenl)eit  (janfenwci^  baljer  nnb  bieten 
gijttlid^en  nnb  menfd)lid}en  ©efel^en  ängleid)  !rro|.  (§3  ift  traurig,  aber  waijx,  bag 
ter  ZüQ,  weldjer  cigent'tJ  für  Sfieligionöübungen  bcftimmt  ift,  mel)r  als  alle  anbern  ju 
tvunJeueni  Samt  unb  sJlnöfd^voeifung  migbraudjt  wirb. 

Sn  ber  93erfammluug  ber  ^olijei^Sommiffare,  am  (^'reitag,  ben  8.  5iiti  1859,  ba 
alle  älfitgliercr  yigegcn  waren,  überrcid)te  9tid)ter  Uilätjöffcr  folgcnben  S3crid;t,  in 
33e,^ng  auf  bie  9luöfü()rung  ber  (gonntagö^Ocfe^e : 

®ie  ®efe^=  unb  Drbin"au^.(Sommitt'ee,  nad)  SBcrüiffidjtigung  ber  ?l.?etiticnen  für 
nnb  gegen  bi'c  9lufred)tl;altnng  ber  befteljenbcn  ©onntagiä-.Qcfc^c,  fam  ju  bcn  folgen: 
ben  5üefd)lüffcu  : 

1.  2)tcfc  Söefecrfce,  jwfolqe  lljrer  Orgauifntlon,  ift  »erpflldjtct,  bie  beflef)cnben  ©efofe  aufregt  jii 
erfjatten,  fca  ei  ein  wobiverlliinbcitc«  9)rtnjiB  ill,  ba§  tie  »erwoltfnbcii  Sbcl)i>rben  nidit  bie  SIu«(fiibning 
line«  (iicfe^cä  unterlaficn  fcnncit,  aus  bem  Cöruitbe,  »Dcil  ti  jrociftl^aft  iji,  »b  ti  iiid)t  bem  Weijie  ber 
Sonftitution  juiviber  ifl. 

2.  £tc  djvitllidjc  ^Religion  t(l  bicienigc,  »c(d)e  feit  bcr  Slnrtebtiing  bc3  ScinbcS  eriftirt  bat,  iinb  gc- 
«enmärtiä  in  biefen  i5ereitiigtt'n  Staaten  beftebt  unb  anertannt  i|'t  bei  bcr  »Diaffe  bc2  iicifcs,  aus  »«r- 
U^itbcncu  gicliflii)na=i^crfa(tuugcu  beflebenb,  n)cld)e  beinabe  atlc  ben  d)rifilid)eu  ©atbatb  ata  einen  iöc- 
flartbtbeil  ibrer  iUeligicn  bctradjten. 

3.  Xie  biJdjften  (iieriditsbcfc  betradjtcn  bie  d)ri|i(id)C  JReliglon  a\i  bie  im  Sanbc  bcrrfd)enbc,  nnb  bie 
i8efd)i'ifung  ber  Sied)tc  aller  iibrigni  Steligioneu  nutO  itbcrjcit  bie  i^rinjipien,  (iSebrnudje  nnb  (iiefefc  ber 
ganjcn  d)ri|Kid)cn  (iJemeinfdjafi  torjugäiucifc  unb  in  soller  Äraft  beftcben  laiTen. 

4.  S)a«  ivabre  *Prinjip  bcr  SJeligionsfreibeit  erlaubt  nid)t  bcn  tlcinjtcn  2bcilcn  bcr  S-^epclfcrung  bie 
gro§e  iJiaffc  be3  iUilfc«  anfjuforbern,  bie  Slufredjtbaltung  berScnntagä-Üicfcge  anfjugcben,  )vild)e  feit 
6er  Slnfleblung  beä  l*anbca  bcftanben  baben. 

5.  Eie  gegenwärtige  3iid)tad)tung  ber  ©onntflg«=(Scfe$e,  bauptfädjiid)  PtTcntlidjc  ©d)üu(letlnngen 
am  Sonntage,  unb  bcr  iierfanf  von  ö)etränfen  unD  anbern  Sadjen,  feilte,  fo  iveit  ei  im  l^efef  erlaubt, 
burd)  bie  ganje  ■'Polijci  nnb  biird)  ben  *J}iagiftrat  pcrbinbcrt  werben. 

0.  X'ic  iiicft1;e  teS  IJaiibcci,  lucUbe  mii  tcr  cfTcntlid)cn  SJii'innng  be«  2<olte?  in  S^cjug  auf  moralifdie 
S.^injipien  nnP  o>cl'vaud)e,  nnt  über  bie  Öcftrafung  ber  llcbertreter  an  irgenc  einem  iagc  ber 'Jl'od)e 
iibereinfiimmcrt,  miiyen  nidjt  auier  2ld)t  gefegt  ober  wibcrrufen  iocrbcn,  wegen  befonterer  moralitd)er 
aJJeiunngcn  »on  (leinen  CS>emfin|d)aften  beä  Üolte«. 

5)er  5i3crid)t  würbe  eiufJimmig  angenommen. —  öin  allgemeiner  53cfef)l  wirb  wat)r: 
fd)einlid)  l}cute  von  bem  ®enerat:(Superintenbenten  an  bie  ^J-'flijei  gegeben  werten, 
baranf  ^u  feljen,  tiaft  alte  Drte,  wo  ©etväufe  verfauft  werben,  nnb  alle  S'l)cater  am 
näd)fteu  unb  allen  folgeuben  Sonntagen  gefd}lcffen  werben,  nnb  alle  (Sigeutl^ümcr  foU 
d}er  *43lä^e,  weld)e  fid)  weigern,  bem-'®ef'el^e  golgc  ju  leiften,  jn  iHnf)aften. 

2)ie  Dlew^Sorfer  (£abbatl)-.(5ümmittee  bejtel)t  and  folgenbeu  2)iänncrn: 

giormaii  aSPI)itc,   3?orfi?cr. 
•ipcnrw  5.  Safer,  Jliomaä  ff.  ^Dtcmiiö,  Wni.  31.  Smith, 

(*.  i'.  ScaMc,  Mi).,  Cr.  V.  Jvandicr,  William  3niöli)i», 

9Jatliaii  S!>i|l)üp,  ^rct.  W.  "Alfter,  3H.  "ä.  3>au  aPaflcntii, 

TCifliam 'JI.  5i>ootl),         !Sat)i&  .^oaMci),  aiMHiam  Walfev, 

9?ol>cvt  (5artor,  .Oorncc  *ü16cii,  ^.  S.  IlMnftüii, 

worrcii  Charter,  5olm  (g.  *>>arfou*,  i>.  <^.  2\>ot>b, 

.^omod  3S?.  iicriiniiiin,   iroter.  Setr..  9Itlffcn  S.  (Soot,  correfp,  ©tct. 

0. -rOf.  "DJiorriffoii,  (liafiircr  ber  IDJan^attan  SJanf)   SdjaSmciiler 


2)ie 


SeutfiS^e  S^crfaiitmliitig 


jur  görberung  ber 


ff  Iff  114^^     (^^^^ti^^^ftUt^ 


gehalten 

im  (Soo^jcr  3nftttut  ju  91cto=5)orf, 

ant  ©onntafl  21&enb,  Un  16.  Dftober  1859. 


ma  ben  9?cbcn  öon  ^^aft,  ®ulbtn,  3)r,  5(bomi%  ^^rof.  2)r.  ei^nff,  ^^rof. 
§itc^coi!,  !Sr,  ^^ring,  nnb  ben  S3ef(^Iü[fen  ber  5öerfamm!nng. 


^etauiSgegcben  »on  ber  ^lew-^oxtex  6abbat^  =  6ommittee. 

(Doc.  No.  9.) 


©ebrudt   bei    §.    Submig,    39    Q,er\txe'.  Btta^e. 

1860. 


2)eHtftfjc  Scrfanimfitng 


ä"i 


gcfjoltcn  im  Soo^jcr  ^iiftitnt  51t  ^Ictu^^orf, 

otn  ©onntog  ^Ibent,  ben  16.  Dttober  1859. 


Die  beutfd)en  Siirger  'oon  9?ew;^orf  ftnb  l)äuftg,  fowo'^t  in  englifcf)cn 
a{§  bcutfd)en  ^^agesblattcni,  a(g  ©cgner  ber  (£onntag§fcicr  iinb  ber  baraiif 
be,5iiglicf)cu  ®e[ei3e,  bic  btn  ©omitag  a{$  einen  ber  Diul)e  unb  5tnbad)t  ge; 
nnbmcten  Zaa,  in  (2d)u6  nel)mcn,  bargefteKt  \vorben.  SBeI)uf^  ber  9(birer)r 
biefer  ungcrcd)ten  3?e[d)n(btgnng  nmrb  auf  (Sonntag  Slbenb,  ben  16.  DU 
tober,  eine  üffcntlid;e  ^erfanimhmg  üon  2)eutfd)en  im  Sooper  ^nftitut 
angefünbigt,  in  n^eld)er  bie  (Sl)re  bc§  beut[d)en  9?amen§  gerettet  unb  t»on 
ber  ^,?ld)tnng,  bk  and)  ber  2)cutf4e  bem  S^age  h($  |)errn  joUt,  em  Bt-'uS'^ii^  ^^&= 
gelegt  ircrben  foüte.  3Die  3Serf)anbIungen  biefer  erftcn,  je  in  beutfc{)er  Spraye 
gel)a(tenen  öoIfötl)ümnd)en  9Serfamm(nng  jur  g-örbernng  ber  @onntag§feier 
liaben  gered)ten  ^Infprud)  auf  aUgemeine  ^efannttverbung  unb  b(eibenbe 
^^(ufbett.>af)rnng,  uni)  ftnb  bef,^a(b  in  biefer  ©d)rift  üoüftänbig  aufge^etdjuet. 

Dbg(eid)  bk  5Serfamm(ung  nur  bind)  fnrje  unb  fd)(id)te  Sl'njeige  ange; 
fünbigt  Ycav,  unb  in  mand)cn  bcutfd)en  jlird)en  jur  gleid)en  ©tunbc  9[benb= 
gotteSbienft  gehalten  niurbe,  fo  trarcn  bod)  bie  weiten  9iciume  be§  Sooper 
^jnftttutö  um  fteben  nf)r  i^on  einer  anfet)nlid)en  9Jtenfd)cnmenge  gcfiiüt,  bic 
faft  augfd)(ief;(id)  aug  2)eutfd)en  beftanb.  2)ie  ^a\)i  ber  ^erfamme(tcn 
unirbe  i)on  einigen  auf  1500,  »on  5(nbern  auf  2000  gefd)ä^t.  ^unberte 
i>on  5lmerifanern,  bit  a\\§  Sleugierbe  ebenfalls  '^erjufamen,  fcl)rten  lieber 
um,  a(§  fte  a\v  (Singang  erful)ren,  ba§  bie  5Serl)anbUtngeu  in  einer  i()nen 
unbefannten  ©prad)e  ftattftnbcn  unirben.  ?^aft  aUe  beutfd)en  $rebiger  ber 
Stabt  unb  nad)ften  Umgebung,  gegen  25,  nebft  ineten  einfluf?reid)cn  beutfd}en 
.tlauf-  unb  ®efd)äft§(euten  befanben  ftd;  auf  ber  platform.  S(u^erbem  Tratten 
fid)  üiele  ber  älteften  imb  angefet)enften  amerifanifd)en  ^rebtger  eingefun; 
bcn,  um  it)re  X^iiUxaljmt  für  bcn  ^wed  unb  bie  2!enbenj  ber  3Serfamm{ung 
an  ben  Siag  ju  tegen.  9?ament{id)  faf)  man  bie  !l)oftoren  ber  5;i)eo(ogie 
Spring,  5(bam^,  $t>tt§,  ^itd)cocf,  ©finner,  ^^rime  unb  £)roen.  5{ud) 
mand)e  geadUcte  Saien  waren  zugegen,  wie  bie  ^errn  SBetmore,  ^partfci), 
^oott)  ($rdfibent  ber  9(m.  (Jjcbange  53anf),  .f)oab(ep  (^räfibent  ber  $anama 
6ifenba()ni®efet{fd)aft;,  !l)oremu§,  9[ßl)ite,  3;ru§(ow,  SEoob  unb  Stnbcre. 
©oui^erneur  (Sü^wort^  t>on  Connecticut  war  ebenfalls  auf  ber  ^[atform. 

4perr  ©uftaö  (3d)wab,  «Solju  be§  berül)mten  beut[d)en  3)id)ter5, 
unb  93titg(ieb  ber  g-irma  De(rid)^  unb  Comp.,  führte  ben  93orfti3.  '^ladi 
bem  bag  Sieb  gefungen  war:  ,,^ie\\  gt)riften,  ift  ber  2;ag  bei  ^errn," 
»erlag  ^aftor  (yarlid)g  t?on  S3roof(pn  mit  feterlid)cm  9?ad)brucf  bic  ^el):! 
®ebote  unb  T)ie(t  barauf  ein  paffcnbeg  (Singangggcbet. 

^aftor  3.  6.  ©ulbin,  feit  ftcbenjel)n  Satiren  ^rebiger  au  ber 
beutfd)cn  93?ifftongfird)e  in  ber  v^ouftonftrajie  (in  3Serbinbung  mit  ber  nie: 
berlanbifd;  rcformirten  ©i;nobe)  {)ie(t  I)terauf  folgenbc  Ütebe: 

3 


»on 
9>rcbt6cr  bet  l)cutf(iert  ©Bangelif^en  Wifflcnä-  (5Jtebcr{änbifd)'SRcformtrten)  Sixi)t  »on  SRew>8orf. 


„©nabe  fei  mit  cud),  unb  griebe  üon  ©ott,  unferm  ^ater,  unb  bem  §errn 
:;^efu  6f)ri[to. 

Ungert)Dbnlid)e  ^i^eube  gcimifjvt  e§  mir,  bei  einer  fold) en  ©elegenfjeit  cine 
foldje  3<if?l  fee»-*  bcutfd}rebenben  33eü5lferung  unferer  Stabt  f)ier  ocrfammelt  jn 
fefjen.  2}lit  Siedet  i[t  un'§  ber  beut)'d)e  9tame  efjrmiirbig,  unb  mit  ^^ei^t  freuen 
ftir  un§  bari'iber,  irenn  beutfd}er  Ginflufs  tiaä  toaijxe  relrgiöfe  unb  fittlic^e  2Bcf)l 
be§  £anbeä  begünftigt.  @(eid^  bem  beutfcben  j^orfcbungegeift  unb  ber  beutfdjen 
2Biffenf(^aft  ftet)t  auä}  beutfd)e  ^ieligiöfität,  \vo  fie  eine  biblifd)e  ift,  an  Jiefc  unb 
ßrnft  ber  feineä  anbern  S>clfe's  nacb ;  unb  mie  fonnten  toir  anber»  aU  un^ 
freuen,  iwenn  wit  eine  folc^e  SJienge  ber  6i3f)ne  unb  Socbter  2)eutfd}(anb!S  biefen 
Slbenb  l^ier  feljen  —  Ijier,  too  fie  mit  il^rer  ©egentoart  einer  tiefen  unb  ernften 
Sa&ie,  ber  beiligen  Sfteligion,  ba^SBort  reben!  Gin  5Beföet!§  ift  eiS,  baf}  frommer 
Sinn,  Gt)rfurd)t  »or  bem  cßeiligen,  unb  Siebe  für  ^i^^P^af''^  Stiftungen  unter 
ibnen  nid}t  erlofc^en,  unb  baf5  ©ott  nod)  ein  grof^e»  beutfcbe»  25olE  in  biefer 
Stabt  l^abe,  toeld^e§  feine  ßniee  üor  95aal  nicbt  beugt  —  ein  35oIt,  ba§  tcm 
beutfcben  S?aterlanbe  unb  bem  Sanbe  feiner  Slboption  61)re  mad)t. 

Oeffentlicb  luollt  ibr,  tro^  be»  fpottenben  gi^eoelu  ber  53ibelfeinbe,  ju  cvfcn: 
neu  geben,  't>ci^  iijr  ©ott  metyr  ate  9Jlenfd}en  gebordjen,  unb  baf)  il;r  tea  d}avn 
Sag,  ben  man  euc^  toegjunebmen  befliffen  ift,  l^eilig  batten  tooUt. 

Sauge  genug  —  ju  lange,  in  ber  Z\)at,  Ijabt  ibr  ftiUe  gefd^toiegen,  toabrenb 
eine  gemiffe  .Hlaffe  ber  2)eutf(^en  ben  Sabbatb  o^ne  2Jta^  entl^eiligte  unb  be- 
fdjdftigt  mar,  mie  fie  e§  no^  ift,  »renn  möglid),  benfelben  ausjutilgen.  Sauge 
genug  f(^ien  e»,  alä  ob  beutfc^er  Unglaube,  burci^  feine  Meu^erungen  in  ber 
GntbciHgung  be§  Sonntagey,  2ll(e»  mit  fid)  fortreij^en  roollte,  unb  aUS  ob  nur 
»ücnig  ^römmigfeit  unter  ben  S)eutfd)en  I^ier  übrig  geblieben  märe.  Sauge  ge^ 
nug  mürbe  burcb  baä  93enel^men  jener  .klaffe  ber  ßinbrud  auf  ba»  amcrifanifcbe 
'iPublifum  gemadbt,  alä  ob  bie  Seutfcben  am  Sage  bei§  .^errn  fidj  um  nidbt^^  als 
finnlidje  93ehiftigung  fümmerten. 

©emi^  ift  c^}  Qdt,  bafs  bie  beffergefmnten  S)eutfcben  (©ott  fei  '^ant,  bafs  fie 
an  3^1)1  ttod)  bag  Uebergctoidjt  I;aben)  inie  ein  SJiann  fid?  aufmacben  unb,  alä 
bie  3eu9ß"  "^^^  ^errn,  ben  Sag  ©otteg  ju  retten  unb  ju  erbalten  ficb  »ereinigen. 
Sie  finb  fid)'y  felber  fcbulbig  —  \l)x  guter  ?lame  er^eifd^t  eo.  Sie  fmb'y  ibren 
Familien  fcbulbig:  —  SBeiber  unb  .Jiinber  muffen  notbmenbig  mebr  unb  mefjr 
unbefi^reiblicb  in  ?5oIge  ber  immer  äune^menben  Sabbatbentl}eiligung  leiben. 
Sie  finb  e»  bem  9?ei(^e  ©ottci?  fcbulbig.  S)er  Sabbatt)  ift  innig  mit  bem  ^oxU 
beftanbe  unb  ©ebeil^en  be§  JHcidjei?  ©otteg  ßerfnüpft.  ßr  ift  ber  ilird^e  unb  ben 
©laubigen,  mie  cinft  ben  .fiinbern  i^t^^taelä  bie  93unbe§labe,  ein  beiligejS  Äleinob. 
Unb  bieg  ift  ben  Ungläubigen  mo^t  bemuf,t,  unb  ba^er  lommt  e§,  bo^  fie  ben 
Jag  be§  ^errn  fo  gerne  auä  bem  2Bege  räumen  moüen. 


grägt  ^emanb:  „^[t  eine  folc^e  Sßerfammlung  mie  biefe  nöt^ig?  ^^fbn 
ZaQ  beä  ^errn  ftirflic^  in  ©efa^r?"  fo  emiebern  mir:  ©efn^r,  ba^  unl  ber 
Sabbat^  gencnimen  merben  fönnte,  freiließ  nic^t  —  benn  ©ott  njtrb  nie  feine 
eigenen  Stiftungen  feinem  58olfe  entreißen  laffen.  SBenn  aud)  eine  ßeitfang 
ber  Ungtaitbe  einen  fdjeinbaren  Sieg  ert)ä(t,  fo  fprirfit  boc^  ©Ott:  „53iö  l^iefjer 
unb  nid)t  rtjeiter!"  2lllein,  föer  roitl  eä  in  Stbrebe  ftetlen,  ba^  t§  ber  6I)riften 
l^eiüge  ^fti(^t  ift,  mit  allem  Grnft  ba  aufjutreten  unb  i^ren  ßinflu^ 
geltenb  ju  mad}en,  tt»o  auf  eine  me^r  alä  geiüi3l^ntid}e  2Beife 
ber  Unglaube  in  feinen  üerfd^iebenen  formen  ber  cl}ri  ft lid^cn 
©laubenä=  unb  Sittenlel^re  entgegentritt?  Sinb  Gl)riften  „baä 
Sict)t  ber  SBelt"  unb  „baö  Salj  ber  ßrbe,"  fo  follen  fie  ba  il)r  Sic^t  nic^t  unter 
einen  Scheffel  fe^en,  tvo  ginfternifs  ba§  Sid^t  üerbrängen  mill,  unb  ba  ba^^  Salj 
nidjt  in  ein  ©efäfs  einfdjiiefjen,  mo  g-äulnif,  jcbcm  nütili(i)en  unb  nctfjtücnbigen 
Subfiftenjmittel  brol)t.  —  3Ber  mill  e»  leugnen,  bap  gerabe  in  unferer  ^cit,  unb 
gerabe  unter  ber  beutfdjen  Söeüöllerung  unferer  6tabt,  ber  Unglaube  feine  Stirne 
auf  eine  freche  Söeife  seigt  unb  feinen  g^eüel  auf  bie  ^ö(^fte 
Stufe  treibt,  um  33ibelreligion  unb  miHin  ©otte§  l^eiligen 
2:ag  3u  ftürjen?  2ßem  blutet  nic^t  baä  ^er^,  menn  er  nxdjt  nur  loabrnimmt, 
mie  am  Sabbatl}tage  in  5>oll»gärten,  3;l)eatern,  niebrigen  ^Bierfneipen,  fic^  bie 
du^erfte  ©ottoergeffenl)eit  3eigt,  nic^t  nur,  mie  in  ©roceriel  unb  53ranntmein: 
fdienten  gelauft  unb  »erlauft  mirb,  fcnbern  menu  man  nod}  ba3u  Ijört  unb  lieft, 
mie  man  barauf  au^gel)t,  bie  Sonntagc-gefel^e  mirtiicb  aiiä  bem  2ßege  3U  räumen ! 

5)ie  2Ba|)rf)eit  ift:  man  mill  gar  leinen  Sabbat^  Ijaben.  6"r  foil 
ganj  au-Jgetilgt  merben,  2)ie§  ift  eine  in  ber  ©efc^ic^te  ber  iiirc^e  bii5l;er  gauj 
unerl^örte  Sad}e.  23on  einem  93eifpiele  lefen  mir,  ba  man  ben  3ef)uten  ftatt  be» 
ficbenten  al§  Sonntag  einfel^te.  G»  mar  mci^renb  beä  letzten  ^af)V3ef)nty  bey 
üorigen  ^a^rl;unbert^,  meldte  ^ßeriobe  un;?  belannt  ift  aU  bie  „Sc^iredcn^seit" 
in  granlreic^.  Gine  furd^tbare  3eil  '^'^^  e»  —  eine  3eit  ^^  man  lehrte:  ber 
^lame  5?ater,  SJlutter,  33ruber,  Sd^mefter,  G^egatte  unb  Gljegattin  fei  meitcr  nid)t§ 
al^  ^^faffentrug;  ba  man  behauptete:  ^ebermann  fei  fein  eigener  ©Ott  unb  fein 
eigener  ©efeligeber ;  ba  man  t)as>  6l;riftent^um  austilgen  unb  bie  lelUe  Sibel  Der= 
brennen  moUte ;  ta  Supont,  mie  eä  ber  Unglaube  in  biefer  Stabt  mill.  Schulen  jur 
Grjiel^ung  ber  ^ugenb,  gang  auf  at^eiftifd^en  ©runbfä^en  berui^enb,  ba^  SBort 
rebete,  in  metd)en  alfo  feine  33ibel  unb  lein  ß^riftu»  fein  fottte;  eine  3eit,  ba  man 
über  bie  3;l;üren  an  ben  ©otte^l)äufern  unb  ©otteisädern  fc^rieb:  S)er  2;ob  ein 
emiger  Sdilaf;  ba  man  aufrief:  iteine  ©ott^eit  al^  bie  5reil;eit,  leine  ätnbetung 
al»  bag  Sßaterlanb,  unb  fein  Goangelium  al§  bie  ßonftitution;  ta  man  ein 
l^albnadteä,  buljterifc^eg  Sßeib  aU  ©ottin  ber  Vernunft  auf  ben  älltar  ber  $arifer 
Gattjebrale  ftellte  unb  it)r  bie  25erel)rung  jollte,  bie  man  bem  Si^öpfer  üerfagte. 
Sßon  Seuten,  bie  fold)e  2)ingeanftifteten,  bon  einem  DbbeiSpierre,  DJlarat,  S)upont 
unb  2:l)omaio  ^^aine  ift  e»  freili(^  nid)t  ju  termunbern,  ba^  fie  feinen  ernften, 
{»eiligen  Sabbatl)  Ijaben  mochten.  2)od&  moKten  fie  nod)  ben  seljnten  Siag  al» 
Sonntag,  freiließ  nur  al§  einen  Jag  finnlic^er  5^rcube,  gelten  laffen.  ©ar  fei» 
neu  Sonntag  l)aben  ju  mollen  —  alle  Sountagegefet^e  jU  befeitigen,  blieb  übrig 
für  baä  neun3el)nte  3at;r^unbert,  für  uufere  Stabt  unb  für  eine  gemiffe  S^))l 
beutfd^er  Ungläubigen. 


6 

2)kn  fie^t  f)icr  Ieid}t  ein,  me  äi/nlxäie  ©(emente  älmlidje  f^rud}t  erjeugen, 
bort  lit  Si^flnfreid)  unb  l^ier.  Unb  fielet  man  nidjt  f)icr  (ciber  [c^on  ju  üiele  reife 
5vüd)te  baüon?  Unb  babei  bürften  6f)ri[ten  gIeid)3iiUig  bleiben?  6{)riften 
füüten  nicfn  bereinigt  »nirfen  —  nicbt  burc^  ben  G)ebran($  jebe»  gcf)eiligten 
•Dlittel'.'  unb  mit  ©ebet  bie  33unbex4abe  ber  ^l^ilifter  ^dnben  entreißen?  — " 

5lm  Sd)Uii3  biefer  Dtebe  cifd)oU  bcc  taufeiibftimmigc  ©efang  bc5 
fci)öncii  Jicbcö  yon  3;()o(ucf,  welrf)e§  bcc  fürjlid)  er[d)icncncn,  v>on  ^^rofeffor 
6ii)af[  beaibeiteteii  (Sammlung  beut[d)er:  Äird^enlicbeu  entnommen  wax. 


2Jlel. :     SBie  fd)ön  leui^tet  ber  SJIorgendcrn. 


1.  D  ©aBBatf;,  beu  i>cr  ^crr  gemadjt, 
3)amtt  (äv  gnäbig  unö  bebad)t, 
@i-quicfinigötag  ber  Svommen, 

aSo  iu'ö  ©ctümmcl  bicfev  aSeÜ 

(Sin  i£tva()l  bcö  cw'gcii  ©abbatt;^  fäf(i 

3u  bem  id)  einfi  [ofl  fommen ! 

^a  id)    2öill  mid)    .g»icr  fc()ou  le^cn 

3tn  bell  ©cl)a|icu    ©eincv  ©tiUe 

23iö  jur  ciü'geu  ©abbatf)fü((e. 

2.  2Bte  f)cl)r  unb  Ijcilig  ifi  bic  ^iii)' 

aBcld)'  ftincö  ^riebcnöfcfi,  baju 
35cr  i-)cn- uni3  t)at  gclabcn! 
SSen  ?jticben,  bcn  (är  felb|l  gcneußt, 
(Sv  bcMt  iiuö  Um'c  ein  ^.'Jieer  cvfd)Uni^t, 
(Sin  ©cclcnbab  bev  ©naben. 
©Ciig     !Iauri)  id)     3)avin  unter, 
D  n.uc  munter    ®d)t  jnnt  ÜBcrfe, 
äBem  bie^  ©celcnbab  gab  ©tärfe! 


3.  Sltö  33u  julcfet  bcn  SRcnfdjeufobtt 
S)cr  ©d)bvfung  aufgefegt  alß  Äron', 
5llö  in  ber  aJlcvgcnfiifte 

©ic  ®elt  nun  fertig  üor  S)ir  tag, 
Äein  iOicnfd)  ift,  ber  ju  fageu  ivag' 
33on  ©einer  SBonnen  '^iilk, 
2BaUet,    ©ri)al(et,    Seiertlänge, 
geftgcfänge,    2)enn  ben  Svicben 
•§at  (Sr  beut  aud)  mir  befdjtebcn. 

4.  Unb  bicfe  fcbönc  (Sotteöttett, 

Sä)  I)ab'  fü  fd)mäbtid)  fie  entfleflt, 
3d),  ©einer  @d;ijvfung  Jtrcne. 
2)n  aber,  ÜBunberliebe  ©u, 
©ibtt  ©eine  2lnferftebnng>3vuf; 
©afiir  mir  nun  jnm  Sobne. 
•§ente,    «^entc,     @d)irft  bte  ©inwcn 
(53anj  nad)  innen,    SKleS  ©enfen 
mü^'  in  3efu  9luf)  fid;  fcnfen ! 


5.  3m  (55fauben  jet^t  mein  ^crj  em^jfäl^t 
S)ie  9tub',  bie  mir  beviiberwetjt 
SSom  2(uferftc()nng3morgen ; 
Unb  feb  id)  3f)n  bann,  tüie  @r  ift, 
93(cib,  nicnn  (Sr  mid)  in'ö  -^erje  fcblicft, 
3d)  c\vic\  brin  geborgen, 
©eine    9tcine    @abbat()ftif(e, 
^err,  mid)  füftc    a)iit  bem  «^rieben 
!Den  3)u  breifad)  mir  bcfd)ieben! 


^^aftor  3©.  9(bam§,  !Dr.  ber  2;ijeoIogte  unb  ^^rcbigcr  ber  prci^bi^tc; 
rianifd)en  ®cmeinbeiu  SO?abifon;@quarc,  l)ic(t  barauf  in  eng(ifd)er  (Sprad)e 
eine  üicbe  folgcnben  3nl)att!p: 


^tht 


Dotter  ber  ZijioUQit  unb  S^rebigct  ber  tsresb^terianif^cn  (Semeinbe  in  2Jlabifou  Square,  9leiB=9orl. 


„Q§  erfiillt  mid^  mit  f^ex^lxdjtx  ®an!bar!eit  gegen  ©ott,  Ijier  eine  fo  gtofse  unt 
ad^tbare  beutfd^e  23er[antm(ung  üor  mir  ju  fef)en  unb  anreben  ju  bürfen.  Sßenn 
ii)  innl;erblide  unb  erlüdge,  bajj  fie  bie  freie  .Runbgebung  ber  ©efinnung  meiner 
beutfci}en  DJiitbiirger  unb  ein  fd^lagenbesiBeugnifs  iljrer  .god}ad}tung  für  ben  d)rift= 
lii^en  6abbatf)  ift,  fo  üermag  ii^  !aum  SBorte  ju  finben,  bie  meine  Sl^eilnafjme  unb 
greube  genugfam  ausbriiden. 

211^  id)  eurem  ©efange  laufd&te,  ber  fo  ^ell  unb  lebensüoll  erflang,  luie  man  eS 
nur  üon  5)eutfd;en  üernefjmen  fann,  tarn  mir  bag  93ilb  eineg  ©onntagg  mieber  r>or 
bie  Seele,  ben  ic^  »or  fünfje^n  ^a^ren  in  S)eutfd)Ianb  erlebt,  ^n  gleid)er  Sßeife 
lüie  je|t,  borte  ii^  ba  in  ben  Diäumen  einer  alten  S)omlircbe  alle  SSerfammelten, 
DMnner,  Sßeiber  unb  ilinber,  in  üollem  Sion  ben  SSater  im  ^immel  loben,  ßä  ge= 
reid}t  mir  ju  lier^li^er  greube,  meine  beutfc^en  Srüber  aU  3}titfämpfer  für  eine 
fo  beilige  2ingelegen^eit,  lüie  bie  ©acbe  be»  ©onntagä  ift,  ju  begrüfsen.  SBäl^renb 
t>on  mandjer  6eite  bie  Seutfcben  angefeben  unb  bebanbelt  Sorben  finb,  alsS  l)abe 
man  »on  il)nen  nur  Sßiberfpruc^  unb  Slbneigung  gegen  unfere  ©onntagsfeier  ju 
erwarten,  fo  ben^eifet  il)r  je|t,  ba^  iljr  ben  ©onntag  liebt  unb  el;rt.  Safür  loben 
mir  ©Ott  unb  faffen  im  93lid  barauf  neuen  Tluti).  2Bir  finb  alle  ©lieber  ßiner 
großen  e^a'itilie,  unb,  infofern  mir  bemfelben  Sanbe  unb  ©taatäüerbanbe  ange= 
frören,  finb  mir  gleic^fam  SHeifegefäl^rten,  bie,  menn  audi  gleich  anä  üerfdjiebenen 
Sänbern  fommenb,  ficb  auf  ßinem  g^aljrjeug  eingefcbifft  l)aben,  S)a  muf)  benn 
jebem  3:i>eile  bie  ^^vei^eit  jufte^en,  feiner  Sitte  unb  Söeife  gemä^  ficb  einjuridjten, 
unb  infofern  etma^  gu  beratl^en  ift,  \va§  Sitte  angebt,  muJ5  bie»  frieblid)  unb  güt= 
lieb  gefcbeben.  Sollte  aber  jemanb  üon  ber  6d»ifficgefetlfd)aft  ein  £od}  in  ben 
Hielraumgebobrt  ^aben,  fo  merben  biejenigen,  meld}e  ibn  bial)er  al!§  i^ren  2anb§5 
mann  unb  ^-reunb- anfallen,  ebenfo  bereit  fein,  alä  alle  Slnbern,  i^m  ju  mef)ren 
unb  ba»  2ocb  mieber  ju  üerftopfen. 

(E§  ift  etma»  Schöne»,  ju  einem  fo  großen  unb  berrlid^en  S^eäe,  mic  berje: 
nige,  ben  mir  jeljt  im  Singe  l^aben,  äufammenjufommen,  ©eftattet  mir  aber  bei 
biefer  ©elegenbeit  bie  Sßitte  an  meine  beutfcben  93rüber  im  ^rebigtamte,  bajj  mie 
mir  jeljt  fie  befud)en,  fie  ciuäi  öfterä  in  unfre  iiird^en  Eommen  unb  unfre  ©emeinben 
anreben  mögen;  id)  meinesStljeilio  merbe  fie  mit  ^reuben  auf  meiner  ilan^el  feben. 
SBenn  mir  burd}  gegenfeitigen  ©ebanlenauetaufc^  einanber  beffer  lennen  lernen, 
fo  merben  mir  Giner  uom  3lnbern  mand}e»  ©ute  annebmen,  93orurtbeile  bagegen 
unb  ©infeitigfeiten  ablegen,  unb  fo  mit  einanber  jur  Stuöbreitung  unferio  gemein= 
famen  d}riftlic^en  ©laubeuiä  immer  träftiger  jufammen  mirfen." 

^^^rofeffor  ^l^itip^)  ©d)aff,  2)oftor  ber  2it)eo(ogie  imb  2ef)rec  am 
tI)eo(ogifcl)en  (Seminar  ju  5)tcrccr^burg  in  $ennfi;limnien,  l;ielt  jct^t  fofgcnbe 
Diebe,  hei  bec  bie  SSerfammhiug  laufd)cnb  an  feineu  Sippen  I)ing,  unb 
^)ä\\f^o,  ifire  Ueftcrcinftimmuug  mit  bem,  n?a^  er  au^fprad),  äujjertc; 


flefec 

DC« 

^rpfeffpt?  ^r.  *(;iUvv  «Schaff, 

auä  9:itercEr8tiirfl,  9.Vimft)l»anien. 


„.§err  ^Präfibent! 

SSerel^rte  SBerfammlung ! 

SReine  ©rfd^einung  unter  ^ijntn  bebarf  feiner  9Jcd^tfcrtigung.  2t(y  id?  »or 
ein  paax  SBoc^en  »on  bcutfd^en  unb  englifd^en  ^i^eunben  in  9lcm:?)cr!  eingelabcn 
murbe,  »or  einer  beutfdjen  SSerfammlung  ^ur  ^^orberung  ber  d^riftlid)enSonntagy= 
feier  eine  'Siett  ju  Italien,  fonnte  ic^  über  bic  Shinabme  biefea  unerwarteten  !')tufe» 
feinen  Hugenblid  äh)eifel|)aft  fein.  e)§  bandelt  ficb  I}ier  urn  eine  f;et(igc  9(nge= 
Iegenf)eit,  urn  eine  brennenbe  £eben§froge,  trelc(}e  feit  einiger  Seit  faft  alle  grö: 
^eren  ©täbte  Slmerifa'»,  t»cr  allem  aber  3leiü=9)orf  unb  ^bilabelpl}ia,  aufgeregt 
'i)at  unb  mit  ben  tfjeuerftcn  ^ntereffen  ber  öffentlichen  Sittlic^feit  unb  9?eligion, 
mit  ber  it)al;ren  S55ol)lfa^rt  unfereä  2lboptit>:5Baterlanbe»  unb  mit  ber  6i;r  e  beg 
beutfd}en  SUmeng  auf»  innigfte  üerfnüpft  ift.  3"v  SBabrung  unb  gorbe^ 
rung  biefer  ©üter  einen  SSeitrag  ju  liefern,  l^alte  i(i>  für  meine  ^^flic^t,  für  ein 
2]orrec^t  unb  eine  ß1;re.  Svcilid),  menn  e§  fic^  blo§  um  ben  Flamen  bc»  6abbatf)§ 
ober  ©onntagiS  —  \dix  braudjen  biefe  2lu!lbrüde  bier  gleid)bebeutenb  —  ober  aud^ 
um  bie  Sifferenj  jirifd^en  ber  anglo=puritanifcben  unb  ber  beutfcb=eoangelifcben 
©Dnntagi§=2;f)eoric  unb  ^^rayiä  ba^feelte,  fo  wäre  iä)  ju  t^aufe  geblieben.  2lbcr  e§ 
banbelt  fid?  bier  um  Sein  ober  3Rid}tfein,  um  bie  ßrbaltung  eine»  Scgeni§tage§ 
ober  bie  ßinfübrung  eine!§  B-[ud}tage§.  S)er  Sonntag  —  ba»  bitte  id?  bier  gleich 
»on  üorn  berein  3u  bebenfen  —  ift  in  biefem  amerifanifdjen  f>-reiftaatenbunbe, 
h)o  ber  93eftanb  ber  d)rift(id?eii  .Sirdbe  nid)t  auf  ©taatci^tüang,  fonbern  auf  bem 
freien  3?Dlf!§n)illen,  auf  ber  Maä}t  ber  öffentlicben  $IReinung  unb  Sitte  rubt,  ein 
ifolleftiü^^Rame  für  alle  Ginricbtungen  ber  (briftlid}en  Türd^e  unb  g^unftioncn  be§ 
cffentlid}en  ©otteigbienfte»,  eine  ©arantie  für  bie  ;->ofitit)e  2(u!?übung  ber  un§ 
iura)  bie  Sanbef^gefel^e  gert)äl?rtcn  ©lauben»;  unb  Gultugfreibeit,  ein  mä(btige0 
S3olltt)er!  um  baä  .^eiligtbum  ber  ^^'^nii^ien  unb  ber  ®otte^ol;äufer,  unb  ein 
lüödjentlidier  fc^lagenber  53eit)eiio  üor  ber  ganzen  2Belt,  ba^  ta§  antcrifanifc^e 
SSolf,  trol5  ber  Slrennung  üon  itird?e  unb  Staat,  ein  gottegfürd}tige»  unb 
dbriftlidbeg  Solf  ift  unb  bleiben  ntill. 

Sie  SSeranlaffung  ju  biefer  33erfammlung  ift  3ibncn  Slllen  befannt  unb  braudbt 
nicbt  erft  auyeinanbergefe^U  ju  tüerben.  Sie  ift  nicbt  eine  h)illfürlid}e  unb  unbes 
rufene  23eranftaltung  einiger  9l(>iü:?)orfer  SonntagsSfreunbe.  Sie  ift  ein  33ebürf= 
nif;,  eine  ^flid}t,  eine  9lotb»t)enbigfeit.  ®ie  beutfd}en  Sabbatbfd)änber,  ange: 
fübrt  üon  einigen  d?  arafterlofen  amerif  anifd)en  ^olitifern, 
iveld^e  unfere  £anb»(cute  gerne,  ivie  bie  ^[rlänber,  al'3  Sßerfjeuge  für  if)re  mife; 
r-ablen  B'i'edemifjbraudjen  möd}ten,  aber  jum  ©lud  nid)t  fonnen,  l)alen  ibrem 
bitteren  i^af,  gegen  bie  Sonntag(?gefe|3e  unb  gute  Sitte  be»  Sanbeio  unt>  gegen 
ba§  6^riftent()um  felbft  mitten  unter  Sabafi^gualm  unb  trunfen  non  Sagerbter; 
aSegeifterung,  feil  jur  Söerle^ung  ber  allgemein:menfd^lid^en  ©efc^e  ber  SBürbe 


9 

unb  be§  5(nftant)e^,  freien  ?aitf  gefaffen  unb  baburdf)  tt)rer  eignen  fc^Iecfiten  Qad:)i, 
naä)  bem  einftimmigen  Sengnifj  bcr  englifc^en  '^^reffe,  fo  fcfjr  gefcfjabet,  bafs  föir 
fd}on  bef5f)alb  aller  iceitercn poIemi[d}en DÜidfidjt  überf)obcn  finb.  2ßir  finb  überhaupt 
nid}t  jufamniengefümmen,  um  nnfere  (Segner  gu  befämpfen,  fonbern  um  einfach 
unferer  eignen  lleberjeugung  einen  cffentlidfjen  Slusbrud  ju  geben  unb  unfern 
amerifanif(^en  Sanbilleuten  einen  faftifi^en  Semei»  ju  liefern,  ba{3  e§  jföei  ganj 
»erf(^iebene  JKaffen  üon  S)eutfd^en  gibt,  lüelc^e  in  biefer  focialen  Sebeuicfrage  ir>ie 
geucr  unb  SBaffer,  toie  £i(i)t  unb  g^infterni^,  irie  ßfjriftuä  unb  Selial  fic^)  gegen-- 
überfte^en. 

Unb  3it>ar  glaube  iä)  äuüerfid^tlid^  behaupten  gu  bürfen,  baf3  wh  aU  33ert^ei= 
biger  beä  göttlicf)  eingefe^ten  SRu§etage§  ni($t  nurbie  gro^e  30^ajcrttät  ber  angloj 
amerifanifc^en  Seüijlferung,  öon  SRaine  hxä  g^loriba,  üon  3Rem=^or!  bi'o  San 
e^ranci»fc,  fonbern  bei  hjeitem  ben  befferen  2;{)eil  ber  eingebe  men 
unb  eingetranberten  ®eutf d^ien  felbft  auf  unferer  ©eite  I^aben.  Qum 
33ertieife  bofür  fann  ic^  mid}  getroft  berufen  auf  bie  mir  fe(;r  \vo\)l  betannte  beutfd?e 
SanbbeüiJlferung,  bie  ju  ben  rul^igften,  flei^igften  unb  nüljlidjften  33ürgern 
Stmerifa'ä  gehört,  fomie  auf  bie  fielen  f)unberte  üon  nrd)Iid}en  Gkmeinbcn,  lut^e: 
rifc^er,  reformirter,  eüangelifd^er  unb  anberer  i!onfeffion,  bie  über  faft  alle  Qtaa-- 
ten  biefer  unerme^Hd)en  Union  ^erftreut  finb  unb  fid)  mit  jebem  Safere  üerme^^ 
ren.  Slber  el  genügt,  auf  bie  gegenwärtige  3Serfammlung  beutfc^er  ©onntag^« 
freunbe  l^injutneifen,  bereu  impofante  ©röf^e  unb  mürbige  .^aUung  unfere  ©rmar^ 
tungen  n?eit  übertrifft  unb  unfer  .^er^  mit  2)an!  unb  {yreube  erfüllt. 

[.§iev  \imnbtc  ftrf)  ter  SUcbiicr  in  en  g  ü  f  d)  er  (gpvadje  an  9ieo,  S)r.  91.  ©.  (5  o  o  f  auf 
ber  ^latform,  mit  ben  SBorten:  (Si'laiibcu  ©ie  mir  bie  ?<rage,  irttc  üietc  ^cvroncii  mögen 
utof)(  in  bicfev  großen  >öa((e  anUiefenb  fein?  SDarauf  antnuntetc  S)r.  Soot:  S5cr®viinber 
biefer  3n)litute3,  .§err  @ooi)cr,  fagte  mir,  bag  bie  «^afteim  ®anjen  jn^citaufcnb  ©iije,  mit 
C5infrf)htß  i^Du  ,5Wet  Ijunbcrt  ©t^en  auf  bcr  ^tatfcrm  jätjle,  unb  ba  bie  ©ige  fafi  alle  bc; 
fe^t  ftnb,  fo  muffen  ^icr,  naä)  ber  gcringflen  3äf)lung,  wcnigftenö  fünfjcf;n  big  fed^äjcljn 
f;unbevt  Slcufdjen  anwcfcnb  fein.  3)arauf  wanbte  ftrf)  5)r.  @d)aff,  ebenfalls  in  englifdjcr 
©pracbe,  an  bie  auf  bcr  platform  beftnblid)en  amcrtfanifd)cn  ^rcbigcr  unb  Saien  mit  bcr 
Semerfung :  ©ic  fcl)cn  alfo,  wir  ©cutfdje  fönncn  and)  eine  S)laffeu;93erfammlung,  un> 
j»ar  jur  görberung  bcr  ©onntagöfeicr,  fjalten.  SBir  fönnen  unfere  Ocgner  fclbfl  mit  ber 
3abl  fd)lagcu  ;  wir  baben  bie  9Jiajorität  auf  unfcrcr  ©eite.  M)  bitte  ©ie,  biefcti  nicbt 
ju  Dergcffeu,  unb  tveit  unb  breit  bcfannt  ju  mad)cn. 

©ann  fuf)r  2)r.  ©d)aff  in  [einer  beutfdjen  3lebe  fort.] 

Sllfo  beinal^e  jmei  taufenb  unb  nod)  baju  meift  eingetnanberte  3)eutfc^e,  inic 
man  fd)on  an§  bem  faft  einftimmigen  unb  erf)ebenben  ®efang  unferer  f)errlidf)ei» 
beutfc^en  ß^oräle  fd}liefDen  mu^ !  SBa^rlid),  bag  ift bie  gröfjte beutfc^e,  ja  f o g ar 
bie  3al}lreid}fte  engUfc^e  3SerfammIung  p  ©unften  ber  Sonntag'ofeier,  bie 
menigftenS  ich  hi§  babin  in  Stmerifa  ober  Europa  gefeiten  fjabe.  Htlein  mir  f)aben, 
nu^er  ber  SJ^ajorität,  auch  bie  Autorität,  bie  in  folchen  fittlic^en  fragen  beffer  ift ;  mir 
haben  bie  95ibel;  mir  !^aben  bie  Sanbe^gefel^e  unb  bie  mel^r  a\§  gmeihunbertjä^: 
rige,  burd)  bie  gefegnetften  g-olgen  bemährte  Sanbegfitte;  mir  h^^en  bie  heilige 
Sad)eberöffentlid}en  Orbnung,  ber  öffcntlid^en  Sittlicjhfeit,  ber  nationalen  SBo^Ij 
fa^rt,  furj,  mir  \)aben  göttUc^e^  unb  menfd)Ii(^e§  JRec^t  auf  unferer  ©eite.  2Rit 
foldhen  SBunbe^genoffen  bürfen  mir  mof)(  ben  ilampf  magen  unb  beä  enblid)en  ßrfol: 
ge§  gemi^  fein,  eingeben!  ber  alten  fiofung :  „Tlit  biefem  3eid)en  mirft  bu  ftegen !" 


10 

^s<i)  rebe  311  ^^nen  nidfjt  aU  Puritaner,  obgleid^  ii)  gerne  be!enne,  tor  bem 
iPuritanigmu»,  aU  einer  ber  grofmrtigften  Grfd^einnngen  ber  2BeIt=  unb  ^ird^eu; 
gefd^iitte,  einen  tiefen  9iefpeEt  ju  I^aben,  fonbernalybeutfc^er  2:f)eolcge;  nictt  a(3 
SSevt()eibiger  einec^  cingftUdjen  jübifiten  Sabbatlji'^muy,  fonbern  einer  freien 
d)rtftü(^en  Sonntag^^feier.  ^c^  rebe  aber  and)  ju  ^Ijnen  nid}t  aU  ein  '^tbfomm= 
ling  Don  2)ionard}ieen,  fonbern  a(§  ein  geborner  DJepublifaner  —  benn  ic^  bin  »on 
.0auy  an^  ein  £d}mei3er  —  unb  aU  g'^eunb  ber  amerifanifd}en  ©(aubenS=  unb 
6uUuyfreif)eit. 

Sltfo  üorn  beutfc^en  unb  repubHfanifd}en  ©tanbpunfte  an»  ergreife  id;  fjeute 
bag  SBort  ju  ©unflen  ber  pljt)fi)c^en,  ber  fitt(i(i^en  unb  ber  religiöfen 
5totl^tt»enbigfeit  be!§  6onntag§,  al§>  eine§  2;age§  ber  9hif)e,  ber  3u^t 
unb  be!3  SegeuiS  für  ben  Ginjelnen,  bie  Jamilie  unb  ben  Staat. 

[SiefctS  Xi)cma  wiebcvfjette-ber  SJtctiner,  auf  einen  5Binf  f)tn,  in  enc^lifd)cr  ©pvadjc  für 
bie  auwcfenben  Scvirfjtcrftatter  ber  ciiglifc^en  Bettungen,  mit  ber  58cmcrfung,  bag  fie 
fid;  mit  ber  3tngabc  beffelben  beguiigen  möchten,  wenn  fie  fonfi  ni^tö  «on  bev  Diebe 
oerftcfien  fo((ten,] 

I. 

S)er  SabbatI}  ober  $HuI)etag  tft  feinem  SBefen  unb  feiner  ^hte  nad)  äiter,  al§ 
bie  ntcfaifc^e  ©efehgebung  unb  al§  base  ^ni^ei^t^nii^-  ßr  gef;t,  lüie  bie  G"infet}ung 
ber  @^e  unb  bay  ^nftitut  ber  ^yamilie,  juriid  Uä  auf  ben  Slnfang  bei  menfo^s 
lidjen  ©ef($(ed}te!5,  bii3  in  bie  ^$forten  beä  ^sarabiefe»  ber  Unfd}ulb:  er  rui^t  auf 
ber  urfpriinglic^cn  Schöpfung  unb  auf  bent  Üöefen  beiS  iDIenfd^en,  all  eincc^  finn; 
lid}=i->ernünftigen  6rbenmefen§.  Sarum  meift  and}  haa  nierte  ©ebot  auf  biefen 
Urfprung  ^urüd  mit  ben  befannten  SBorten,  meldje  bal  ©ebot  be^riinbeii:  „5)enn 
in  fei^g  2:agen  (jat  ©ott  ber  t§err  .§immel  unb  ©rbe  gemad^t  unb  bal  2Reer  unb 
2lüe§,  \va§  barinnen  ift,  unb  rufiete  am  fiebenten^iage.  2)arum  fegnete  ber  .§err 
ben  Sabbat^tag  unb  f^eiligte  i^n."  Sa§  ift  natiirlid)  nic^t  fo  ju  üerftel;en,  all 
ob  ©Ott  üon  ba  an  au[geF|ört  Ijahi  ju  fc^affen  unb  ju  mirfen;  e§  ift  nid^t  bie  9iu^e 
be§  9Iid)tät{)un§,  fonbern  bie  S'tul^e  ber  SSolIenbung,  bei  ©egneng  unb  feligen 
©cnuffes  gemefut.  ©ott  I}at,  ba!§  ift  ber  6inn  biefer  populären  Sluebrudäineife, 
am  Sd^luffe  feiner  erften  Offenbarung  nac^  aufsen  fjin  feine  einige  unb  felige 
JRuf)e,  burd)  gnäbige  .^^erablaffung  unb  Slccomobation,  bem  iDlenfc^en  norbilblic^ 
gur  älnfd)auung  gebrad^t  unb  if)n  baburd}  angcioiefen,  baf3  auc^  er  feine  2lrbeit  an 
jebem  fiebten  S^age  buvd)  9hil;e  in  ©ott  abfd)lief5en  unb  innertid)  üollenben  unb 
^eiligen  foil.  .§ier  fjaben  mir  alfo  bie  göttlidie  Santtion  unb  bie  gDttlid}e  ^e= 
grlinbung  eine§  fööc^entUdjen  9fiuf)e=  unb  Segenetage^,  nid)t  blc§  für  ^u^en» 
fonbern  für  alle  SDtenfdten.  2lu(^  in  bem  neuen  3:eftamente,  in  ber  tieffinnigen 
6tc[le  .§ebr.  4,  3 — 4.  mirb  bie  Sabbat^rube  auf  bie  ©d^öpfung  jurüdgefül^rt  unb 
a!'?  uranfänglid^e  Orbnung  ©otteä  be5cid}net.  S^a-o  ©abbatf}gebot  entfpri^t 
einem  allgemeinen  Staturgefe^je,  ba^  3iiemanb  ungeftraft  üerlejjen  faun.  Sa§ 
Tnenfd)li(^e  Seben  ift  nad)  feiner  leiblichen,  geiftigen  unb  fittlid^en  Seite  auf 
einen  fteten  unb  regelmäfügen  SBedifel  jinifd^en  Slrbeit  unb  9iuf)e,  3mifd}en  äuf3e: 
rem  2Bac^i§tl;um  unb  innerer  Sammlung,  ^loifdjen  üluebreitung  unb  3?ertiefung 
angelegt.  3>ebc  Slrbeit  fd}lief5t  fid}  in  einem  JHul)eatte  ah,  unb  jebe  Dhilje  ift 
»pieber  ein  StnfatJ  ju  neuer  3;bätigfeit.  tiefem  ©cfet5e  ift  felbft  bie  ^^^flanje  unb 
taä  Silier  unterttjorfen,  unb  biefem  ©efe|je  ift  ber  2auf  ber  äußeren  9ktur,  ber 


11 

6onne,  be§  2Jtonbe§  unb  ber  Sterne  btenftbar  gemadjt.  S)al)er  ber  SBec^fel  öon 
%aQ  unb  ^adit,  unb  bie  Gintfjetlung  ber  irbifc^en  ^dt  in  SSocben,  Tlon- 
ben  unb  S^f^i^egäeiten.  2Ba^5  nun  bie  ''Raät  i[t  int  3?erf)ä(tniB^  3Um  3;age, 
ber  §erb[t  unb  SBinter  im  33er[;ältni^  gum  grüfjüng  unb  Sommer,  ba^  ift  ber 
Sabbatf),  b.  I),  ein  möc^entlid^er  9^ul^etag,  im  2>erf)a(tni^  juben  fcd)5  2Berftagen. 
Ob  e»  ber  fiebte  ober  ber  erfte  S^ag  ber  2Bcd}e  [ei,  ba»  i)'t  für  bie  allgemeine 
Jrage  l^ier  ganj  glei(f)gültig.  ßr  ift  bie  9tuf)e  ber  2Bo(!^e,  föie  ber  Scblaf  bie 
JRube  be»  5rage§.  2eib  unb  Seele  bebürfen  ju  il^rem  2Bot)lfein  nid}t  nur  ber 
täglidben,  fonbern  aucb  ber  periobifd)en  mi3c[}ent(icben  9tube  von  ber  Strbeit,  ber 
Grf)o(ung  »on  ber  Slnftrengung,  ber  Jirdftigung  aller  ©liebmafjen  unb  5äf)ig: 
feiten  ju  immer  neuer  Strbeit,  unb  in  bemfelben  SJtafje,  in  meldjenx  bie  regel= 
mäßige  Sefriebigung  biefe»  Sebürfniffe»  üerfagt  wirb,  mirb  au(f)bie  ©efunbbeit, 
ber  SBcl^lftanb  unb  bie  2{rbeityfä^igfeit  untergraben.  Setannttid)  finbet  fid}  bie 
SGßcd}eneintl^eitung  mit  einer  mel^r  ober  meniger  flaren  ^eier  beio  fiebten  Zaqe§ 
nid^t  nur  bei  ben  -Hebräern,  fonbern  bei  allen  gefci^icbttic^en  25ölfern  besS  Stlters 
tl^um§,  ben  femitifdjen  unb  inbogermanifcben,  bei  ben  ätrabern,  2(egi}ptern, 
©riechen,  Diömern,  ßf^inefen  unb  felbft  ben  Siegern  ber  afrifanifd)en  ©olbtüfte, 
bie  i^ren  mcd)entlid)en  5etifd}tag  l;aben,  3um  beutlicben  53emeife/  bafs  biefe  Gin: 
tl^eilung  nid^t  blo»  temporäre  unb  nationale,  fonbern  allgemein  menfcblicbe  33e= 
beutung  i)at  unb  auf  einem  loef entlicben  9Iatürbebürfniffe  berufet.  S)ie  Siebenja^I, 
Jüeld^e  ^^f)ilo  „ba»  Seben^prinjip  aller  Singe"  nennt,  f)at  eine  tiefe  Sebeutung, 
nid)t  nur  auf  religiöfem  ©ebiete  al»  bie  Sunbe/^jaljl  ober  bie  S<^i)l  ber  3ufammen= 
faffung  ©ottey  unb  ber  2Belt,  fonbern  aud)  in  fosmifc^en  unb  planetarifcben 
SSerJ^dltniffen  unb  mac^t  fic^  in  ber  normalen  unb  tranfljaften  ©ntmirflung  be>^ 
menfd)li(^en  £eben»  überall  geltenb. 

5}er  Sabbatl)  ift  alfo,  mie  ßf^riftug  fagt  (iDIart.  2,  27.),  für  ben  DJIenfdien, 
nid)t  ber  SRenfd}  für  ben  Sabbatil)  gemadit.  Gr  ift  feiner  urfprünglidjen  2(bfid)t 
nad^,  JtJie  alle  ©efe^e  unb  Ginrid^tungen  ©otte»,  fein  S^iang,  fein  ^odi,  fonbern 
eine  föafjre  2Bof)ltl)at,  eine  (3abe  unb  ein  9ted&t,  bag  @ott  ben  iDIenfd^:n,  unb 
äit»ar  allen  30lenfd)en,  befonber»  aud)  ben  armen  unb  fjart  arbeitenben  ^tlaffen, 
ben  Sienftboten,  ben  g-remblingen,  unb  felbft  ben  unoernünftigen  S^bieren  gege: 
ben  f)at.  Siefe  mof)ltf)ätige  2(bfid}t  tritt  im  oierten  ©ebot  gan3  beutlid)  I;eroor. 
„SedE)§  2!age,"  fo  i^ei^t  eg,  „follft  bu  arbeiten  unb  alle  beine  Söerfe  tf)un,  aber 
am  fiebenten  Stage  ift  ber  Sabbat^  be§  ,§errn,  beine»  ©ottesS;  ha  follft  tn  feine 
Strbeit  t^un,  ncä)  bein  Scljn,  nocb  beine  iocbter,  no(^  beine  2)kgb,  nod}  bein 
9Sie^,  nocl)  bein  grembüng,  ber  in  beinen  3:f)oren  ift!"  Saö  33erbot  ber  2trbeit, 
—  öon  roe(d(}em  jebo(^,  nad^  allgemeiner  3uftiwmung,  ^^erfe  ber  3iotbmenbig  = 
feit  unb  ber  Siebe  aufgenommen  finb,  auä  bem  einfachen  ©runbe,  ireil  bie 
$Rotbit)enbigfeit  fein  ©efe^  fennt,  unb  meil  bie  Siebe  beil  ©efetie»  l)cd}fte  Gr; 
füllung  ift,  —  ic^  fage,  haä  SSerbot  ber  Slrbeit  ift  nur  bie  negatioe  Seite  unb 
unüermeiblidje  Sebingung  be»  pofitiöen  Stnrec^te»  auf  IHu^e  für  Seib  unb  Seele, 
jur  Grf)altung  unb  ©efunbf)eit  beiber. 

Siefe  natürliche  9iotl)menbigfeit  unb  2Bof)ltf)ätigfeit  eine»  inöd^entlic^en 
9ftuf)etage§  für  £eib  unb  Seele  »t»irb  burdb  bie  Grfaf)rung  unb  burd;  bie  getnid^; 
tigften  drätlic^en  3eugniffe  beftdtigt.  Unter  ben  festeren  mill  ic^  ans  cielen 
bIo|  einige  anfüfjren.    ^m  ^a\)xe  1832  lie^  bag  britifc^e  <§au§  ber  ©emeinen 


.   12 

bie  eonntagc^frage  mit  9üidfid)t  auf  bie  arbeitenben  klaffen  burd^  eine  Gommi^ 
f\on  i^on  breif5ig  ^arlament^mitgliebern  unterfuc^en,  ju  benen  6ir  Slnbre» 
Hgncm,  Sir  SJobevt  ^4>ecl,  Sir  fiebert  ^ngli^,  Sir  %l)oma§  Saring,  Sorb  2lfl|)= 
lei}  unb  anbere  auc-gCöCicbnete  Staat!§Tnänner"gel;örtcn.  ^iefe  (Eommifficn  con; 
fultirte  eine  grofje  Stnsabl  Beugen  aug  üerl'd^iebenen  Stänben  unb  93efc^äftigun= 
gen,  unter  Slnberu  aiiä:)  ben  berübmten  unb  erfahrenen  3(r3t  S)r.  ^o^n  Siidjarb 
g-arre  von  £onbon,  ber  aU  Dtefultat  feiner  beinahe  toieräigiäf)rigen  gJraji»  unb 
93eobad)tung  folgcnbe»  3e"g"ife  aus-ftellte: 

,,mß  ein  3iuf)etag  Italic  id}  ben  ©abbatf;  für  einen  (Srfa^tag  fiiv  bic  unjuvei^ 
c^cnbc  2öiebevt)cvfiel(uiig£Shaft  beö  .ilörvcris  unter  fortwd  tjvcnt'cv  9Ubeit  unb  Sluf= 
rcguiig.  Sin  9lvjt  nimmt  immer  gfliiftficiit  auf  bie  (Si()altung  bcr  5ßiebcrl)cvftc((ungöfvaft; 
bciin  itcnn  bicfc  ücrloven  ift,  fo  t)at  feine  ^cilfun(^  ein  (Snbe.  iSin  9lvjt  ijt  bebadit  auf 
bie  (Srf)altung  ber  @lcid)nuif;igfeit  beö  Slutumlaufe^  (the  balance  of  circulation)  al& 
nL-t()Wenbig  jur  lilöicber()crße(lungöfraft  bee  Seibeö.  3)ic  gcwöf)nlid)e  Sinftrcngung  beä 
S)icnfd}eu  fd}»äd)t  ben  Umlauf  an  jebem  Siage  fcineö  Sicbcuö;  unb  ba3  evtle  allgemeine 
gjaturgefcl^,  burd)  n)cld)eö  ©ott  feine  3evjtörung  oertjinbevt,  ijt  bcr  aBed)fcl  you  Sag  unb 
5iJad)t,  bamit  S(luf)C  auf  Jtrbeit  folge.  9lbec  cblvcfil  bie  9?ad}t  fd)cinbar  ben  Q3lutumtauf 
ouöglcid)e,  fo  ftcUt  fie  bod)  bag  ®lcid}gc»id)t  fitr  bie  (Srrcid)ung  cinc<?  (angcn  Scbcu>j  nid)t 
()inlänglid}  {)cr.  3)e(i^alb  ijt  burd;  bie  ®iite  ber  aSorfcliung  ein  ;j:ag  unter  ficbcn  a(3  ©r^ 
fa^tag  bajugcgcbcn,  bamit  burd)  beffen  Oiulje  baö  animatifdje  ©ijjtcm  nollenbet  iverbe. 
iDkfc^rage  Ki^t  fid}  leid}t  faftifd}  entfdjeitien  buvd}ben  ^öcrfud}  mit  einem  8afttl}ier.  a)Jan 
nel}mc  j.  fS.  ba(5  ^fcrb,  unb  man  wirb  balb  finbcn,  bap  ein  9iul}ctag  feine  Äiaft  fiir  bie 
i'lbrigeu  fed}ö  S^agc  itcrme(}rt  unb  ju  feiner  üollen  ®ffunb(}eit  noil^wcnbig  ift.  3)cr  ÜUcnfc^ 
wirb  burd}  bie  l}öf}ere  .traft  feinet  ®ei|te3  aufrcd}t  gcl}alten,  fo  bafj  fid}  bcr  nad}t()cilige 
(Sinfiup  fort  wäf}rcnbcr  täglid}cr  5lrbeit  unb  Slnftrcnguug  nid}t  fo  fd}ncn  unb  uumitj 
tclbar  fuub  giebt  aU  beim  untjeruiinftigen  Xijkxe,  aber  im  33erlaufe  brid}t  er  rafd}er  jus 
fammcn  unb  öcrtiirjt  fid}  bie  Sänge  feinet  Sebenö  unb  bie  p(}^fifd}e  Äraft  bcö  9Utcrö. 
3d}  betrad}te  bepf}alb  bie  (Sinfc^ung  beö  @abbat(}ö  aU  cine  gütige  (Sinrid}tung  ber  SSor^ 
fel}ung  jur  (Sr^altung  bcö  menfd}ti^cn  Scbcnö,  unb  bie  53eobad}tuug  bcfTclben  alä  eine 
natürlid}e  ^jiidjt,  fofern  nämlid}  jugcitanben  wirb,  baß  bie  Scbenöcrl}aUuug  cine  ''^fiid}t 
unb  bie  unjeitige  Sebenojcrftiiirung  cine  9lrt  lion  ©elbjtmorb  ijl.  3d}  fage  bicfj  blof  alö 
ein  9lrjt  unb  otjnc  alle  9iürffid}t  auf  bie  tl}Cologifd}e  ©cite  bcr  forage.  ?lbcr  wenn  man 
ferner  bie  SBirhingen  bcö  wal}reu  Sf)riftentl}umß  bctrad}tet,  niimlid}  griebe  bc»5  @cmütf)3, 
93crtraucn  auf  ®ott  UKb  Üöo(}lwoneu  ju  ben  a)lcnfd}eu,  fo  wirb  man  in  bcm  t}öl}crcn  ®e: 
brand}  be«  ©abbatM,  alö  eincö  tieiligeu  9lu(}ctagcö,  cine  jufä^lid}c  Ouclle  bcr  Scbenöers 

neucrung  für  ben  ®cift  unb  burd}  biefen  and}  für  ben  Scib  pnben Uutcrfud}u»igcM 

in  bcr  ^]3l}i}iiolügie  jeigcn  burd}  bie  2tnatogie  bcö  Söirfcnö  bcr  93orfc(}ung  in  bcr  Olatur, 
tia§  baö  göttlid}c  ®cbot  feine  willfürltdie  Stnorbnung,  fonbern  für  baö  ffiof}l  bciJ  a}icnfd}cn 
uotT}Wenbig  ift.  ©ief?  ift  ber  ®runb,  auf  welchen  id}  bie  <Ba(i)c  ftcllc,  im  Untcrfd}icb  r>on 
93orfd}r(ft  unb  ©cfc^gebung.  3d}  betrad}te  bie  ©onntag^rufie  <iH  notfiwcnbig  für  bcu 
S)Jenfd>en,  unb  b arum  finb  bie  »^einbe  bcö  ©abbattiö  aüä)  gcinbc  be«  5Dknfd}en.  9U(c 
ftarfen  Slnftrengungcu  bcö  Seibeö  ober  ®ei(teö/  fowie  alle  Strten  »on  ?luefd}wcifung  unb 
58eluiligung,  weld}e  ben  33lutumlauf  forciren,  ber  an  biefcm  SSage  ruljeu  foflte,  ftnb  ein 
«ad}t()eili3er  .Sllijjbraud}  beö  ©abbatl}^,  wä(}renb  bie  9(bfvannung  Don  bcu  gcwcil}nlid}cn 
Scficnöforgcn,  b«.r  ®cnuß  ber  9luf}e  im  ©d'ooge  bcr  Familie,  tjcrbunben  mit  bcu  rcligiöfcu 
Ucbungen  unb  ^,fiid}ten,  wcld)e  bicfer  !5!ag  auferlegt,  »on  welchen,  gcl)örig  iicrtlanbcn, 
.■^eine  .einjigc  bag  Seben  abfürjt,  ben  angcmeffenen  unb  wof}lt(}ätigcn  ®ebraud}  bes  <Siii". 
j(ja^'-'öö.au6m«(^cn." 

Sei  einer  regelniiälfjigen  SSerfammlung  ber  „3Reft>=^at}en  9}lebicaI=3lffociation," 
■.mc\^i  cm§  fünfunb^lDanjig  2teräten  mit  Ginfc^Infiber  ^rofefforcnbei^  mebijinifdjen 
lg;olIegium^  beftCi^t,  ipuy.ben  fol^enb.e  .bre.i  B^ragen  aus.füf)rlid^  befprod^en  unb 


18 

ctnftitnmtg  bejal^enb  beantwortet:  1.  3fft  bie  Slnfid^t  bei  S)r.  ^atxt  in 
feinem  »or  ber  Committee  beä  britifdjen  .^aufeio  ber  ©emeinen  abgelegten 
3eugntffe  rid^tig?  2.  Sinb  2)lenfc^en,  bie  blo^  fed^g  3;age  arbeiten,  ber  JRegel 
nad)  gefünber  unb  leben  fie  länger,  a(§  fcld^e,  irelcbe  unter  gleid^en  SSerbält; 
niffen  fieben  3:age  arbeiten?  3.  23erri(bten  fie  mebr  «nb  beffere  Strbeit?  — 
Sr.  ^obn  ß.  2Barren  oon  Softon,  ^rofeffor  am  mebijinifcben  ßoUegium  ber 
Unioerfitat  t)on  Sambribge,  gibt  ebenfalls  feine  Dolle  3uftintmung  in  biefen 
SBorten: 

,;3^  fitmme  ber  Slnftc^t  beö  35v.  i^^irre,  ben  tc^  ^erfönüc^  a(3  einen  Strjt  üom 
i)bä)ften  Oiange  fenne,  »cHfornmen  bei.  Sie  Sflii^licbJeit  bcö  ©abbat^ö  aU  cincö  0iu^e= 
tagcö,  ücni  »eÜlicf^en  ©taub^junfte  auö  betrachtet,  ru^t  auf  einem  ber  allgcmeinficn  ÖJatur: 
gefeite,  beni  ©cfe^c  be3  ))eriobifd)cn  Söed^felö  (periodicity).  @o  ivett  meine  S3ccb; 
o(!f)tung  rcid)t,  getrf)nen  fid;  bie  SJicnfcbe«/  »eldje  am  ©abbat^  »»cltlidjc  ©ovgcn  unb  Sirs 
beitcn  ju  »ermeiben  Jjflfegcn,  aud)  am  mcifien  burd)  üollfommene  (Erfüllung  i^rcr  $fiid^ten 
tt)äf)venb  bev  2Bod)C  auö.  2)er  ©influ^  etneö  2Be^felö  ber  ©ebanfen  am  ©abbatf;  auf  ba3 
©emütl)  fulc^er  Werfen  gteid)t  bem  (Sinfiuf  beö  SBccbfela  ber  Otabrung  auf  ben  Äör^jer. 
3encr  fdjcint  ben  ©eijleöfräften/  toie  biefcr  ben  Seibeöfräften,  neue  ??rifd)e  unb  (Bnnqit 
ju  geben.  3d)  6in  feft  überjeugt,  ba^  folc^c  «ßerfonen  im  ©taube  finö 
mc^r  unb  bcffere  5lrbeit  in  fcd&ö  3;agen  jju  »errid^ten,  al3  tücnn  fie 
(iHc  fjfben  Silage  arbeiteten.  !Daö  (Sinatffmen  ber  reinen  unb  erf;ebcnben  Sltmoöj 
V^äre  etneö  religiöfen  ©abbatfjö  erfrtfdjt  unb  fväfttgt  ben  ®eifi.  (Ss  bilbet  eine  (S^)oc^e 
in  unfcrm  Seben,  üon  ber  tütr  neue  Stnregung  erf)alten,  unb  ifi  bal;cr  bie  befte  SSorberei^ 
tung  für  bie  Strbeiten  ber  fofgenben  ffiodie." 

Gine  ßommittee  ber  gefet;gebenben  35erfammlung  toon  ^ennf^loanien  fübtt  in 
einem  93erid)te  über  ben  Ä?analbau  öom  ^a^xe  1839  bie  SBebauiJtung  ber  6onn= 
taggfreunbe  an,  „bafe  fotrobl  2Renf($en  alä  93ieb  mebr  Strbeit  t>errid)ten  fönnen, 
it)enn  fie  einen  2:ag  in  fieben  ruben,  al§  menn  fie  alle  fieben  arbeiten,"  unb  fügt 
binju,  „ba§  ibre  eigene  Grfabrung  al§  ©efdiäftämänner,  Sanbmirtbe  unb  @efei^= 
geber  mit  biefer  5Bebauptung  übereinftimme. "  S)a§  ßyperiment  ift  bäufig  in 
ßnglanb  unb  Slmerifa  mit  2)ienf(ben,  ^^ferben  unb  Ocbfen  gemocbt  lüorben  unb 
bat  baffelbe  9iefultat  geliefert,  unb  bie  SBeiä-beit  unb  ©üte  ber  göttlid)en  Slnorbs 
nung  eine§  fööd)entlicben  Diubetageg  beftätigt.  ©in  auffallenbeS  Seifpiel  jeigte 
fid;)  no(^  »or  furger  3eit  in  ßalifornien,  mo  eine  amerifanifd)e  ©efellfcljaft  üon 
©olbgräbern  im  ßifer  für  plö^lid)en  9leid^tbum  ben  Sonntag  »erlebte,  aber  balb 
bur(b  allerlei  Jlranfbeit  unb  Seu(be  bie  ßrfabrung  machte,  ba^  fte  ftatt  beä  ©olbes 
üielmebr  ibr  eigenes  @rab  grub,  unb  baber  jur  geier  be§  9lubetage§  jurüclfebrte, 
beren  iDobltbätige  e^olgen  für  £eib  unb  Seele  ficb  aud)  in  furjer  3eit  einfteQten. 

3u  biefen  englifc^en  unb  amerifanifcben  3eugniffen  lüill  id)  noä)  ein  beutfcbeä 
bingufügen  üon  einem  berübmten  Spanne,  ber  gtüar  feine  tbeologifd^e  unb  religiöfe 
Slutorität  ift,  aber  in  ben  bi5*^ften  .ßreifen  meltlid)er  Silbung  ben  beften  0ang, 
unb  baber  für  unfere  ©egner  um  fo  größeres  ©etoid^t  bot. 

,,3d)  tf}ci(e  ganj  ^^xi  SO^einung,"  fagt  ffiiltielm  l^on  ^umbolbt  in  ben  ©riefen  au  feine 
grcuubin  (1850,  5öb.  1.  ©.  282  f.)  ,,ba^  bie  (Sinrid)tung  befiimmtcr  SRufietage,  felbjl  luenn 
fte  gar  nid)t  mit  religiofer  ^eier  jufammen^inge,  eine  fiir  3cbc:t,  ber  ein  mcnfd)enfreunb; 
lidjeö,  auf  alte  Äiaflien  ber  ®efef[fd)aft  gcrid)tete«  ©emiitt;  f}at,  f}öd)ft  ern"cu(id)e  uub 
ttivtlicb  erquicfcnbe  Sbce  if!.  (SS  giebt  nid)tä  fo  Sclbüifdjeä  unb  ^erjlcfcö,  ciU  mm 
aStmebme  unb  Sdcidje  mit  3Jli^fa([en,  ober  wenigflenä  mit  einem  gewiffen  üerfd)mäbenbcn 
eiel  auf  ©onn.  unb  Feiertage  juriicfbticEen.    ©elbfi  bie  ffia^l  bcö  fiebenten  2;ageö  ifl 


14 

getoi^  bic  tveifeftc,  weld^e  ^dtte  gcfunben  »erben  fönnen.  ©o  hjtflfü^rdc!^  eö  fd^etnt,  bie 
Strbeit  urn  einen  !£ag  ju  »erffirjcn  cbcr  ju  üerlängern,  fo  Bin  id)  iibevjeugt,  bap  bie  fed^a 
S;age  gcrabe  bati  lüadrc,  ben  3)lenfr[)cn  in  iifxtn  ])\)t)\i\A)cn  Jtvaften  unb  in  il;rem  53cf)avren 
in  einförmige«:  93c[(t)äftigung  angemeJTene  Maa^  ift.  6'^  liegt  nod)  etwaö  «^umvxneiS  and) 
barin,  ici^  bie  ju«  5lrbeit  be^ixljiic^en  Siliere  biefc  Dln^e  mit  genicjjcn." 

SlUein  nun  fagen  unfere  ©egner:  ba§  geben  iriv  gerne  ju,  »üir  lüoUen  ja  and) 
einen  möc^entUdien  STag  ber  ^tul^e,  ber  ßrl^olung  unb  ber  ejreube.  2l((erbing§! 
Slber  eine  9*tu(;e,  irelc^e  bie  grofste  Unruhe  unb  Slufvegung  i[t,  eine  Grl/otung, 
tuelcbe  ßrtnattung  unbälufreibung  beiüirft,  unb  eine  ^veube,  bie  mit  bitterem  Seibe 
enbet!  §ört  einmal  bie  Spradje  biefer  £eute:  ,,2)er  2lrbeiter  mill  einen  Sag 
ber  ßrbolnng,  unb  jtüar  nict)t  aü§  bem  ©efalbaber  eineä  Si^mar^rode^  ober  au§ 
einem  brünftigen  @ebetbüd}lein,  moran  fid^  blc^  alte  fficiber  unb  SummfÖpfe  er= 
bauen  fönnen ;  bie  enge  3Berfftatt  »erlangt  ben  ©egenfalj  ber  freien  3iatur,  ber 
3tüang  ber  Arbeit  brängt  gur  Ungebunbenbeit.  2Bir  baben  Sommergärten  unb 
6ommertbeater,  aber  nocb  lange  nidbt  genug ;  S)ampfboote  unb  Gifenbabnen 
muffen  Sonntags  erft  2:aufenbe  binauS  tragen  in'?^  greie:  2Jlufi!  unb  Sans  un^ 
ter  grünen  93äumen  muffen  ertönen,  mobin  man  ficb  inenbet,  überall  £uft  unb 
Seben  unb  g-reube."  ^ebermann  üerftebt  ben  Sinn  biefer  Sprache;  jcbermann 
lDeif3,  irelcber  müfte  'unb  robe  2Jlateriali§mu§,  meld;e  Seftialität  ficb  barunter 
birgt,  ^eiiei^inann  tüei^,  mie  e§  hd  biefen  tüeltlid^en  93ergnügung»arten,  fei  eg 
unter  grünen  Säumen,  fei  e»  in  ben  Sauf=  unb  Spielböllen  ber  Stabt,  am 
Sonntag  gettiöbnlid)  bergebt.  5)ie  folgen  berfelben  finb  leiber  nur  ju  oft  in 
bem  pb^[if<^en  unb  moralifcben  ■ßai^enjammer,  in  Slrmutb  unb  SSerbrecbcn,  in 
unfäglicbem  ^^amilienelenb  unb  im  enblicben  S^luin  üon  £eib  unb  Seele  5U  lefen. 
Solan  nebme  blo^  bie  9Ieh):9)or!er  6riminal=Statiftil"  ber  legten  paar  ^abre  unb 
bie  @efcbi(^te  ber  ficbentaufenb  fiebenbunbert  nid}t  licenfirten  Jincipen  biefer 
Stabt  jur  $anb,  unb  man  \-)at  baran  ben  fdjlagcnbftcn  unb  traurigften  kommen: 
tar  ju  biefer  Sabbatbfcbänbung,  ber  alle  weiteren  SBemeife  erfe^it.  2Beg  mit  bie« 
fen  inüften,  auggelaffenen  93ergnügungcn,  mel(^e  bie  @efunbbeit  untergraben, 
ben  ©eift  abftumpfen  unb  üertbieren,  bie  Sitten  jerftören  unb  ben  guten  beut; 
fcben  3lamen  bem  Spott  unb  ber  ^Berai^tung  preiy  geben!  SBabrlid),  c»  giebt 
fcbönere,  reinere  unb  eblere  Sonntaggfreuben,  trelcbe  bem  £eib  unb  ber  Qede 
ttjabrbafte  Grbolung  gelt»äbren,  fie  ju  neuer  2trbeit  ftärfen  unb  einesi  üernünfti; 
gen  fittlidben  SBefenä  unb  gerabe  auä)  eine§  äd^ten  beutfcben  OJtanneä  allein  mür= 
big  finb,  ^^reuDen  an  ©otteg  SBunbermerfen  in  berDtatur  unb  ©efd)id}te,  Jvcuben 
im  ftillen  Äreife  ber  {^amilie,  ^^reuben  an  SBerfen  ber  Sarmberjigfeit  unb  dJlcn- 
fcbenliebe,  e^reuben  an  ber  .^erjeng^  unb  ©eiftegbilbung,  greuben  ber  DJcligion 
ober  beä  Umgangs  ber  Seele  mit  bem  elüigen  Urquell  alles  SebenS  unb  aller 
§reube.  ^yür  foldbe  Jreuben,  für  foldbe  3?ube  unb  ©rbolung  ift  ber  Sonntag  uon 
©Ott  felbft  beftimmt,  unb  t»on  jeber  hjoblgeorbneten  d}riftlidben  3tegierung  aufrcdbt 
g^baiten. 

Senn  ber  Sonntag  bat  neben  feiner  pb^fvfdben  5Rotbft>enbigfeit  als  Dhtbctag 
aucbeine  böbere  fittlidje  5Rotbroenbigfeitunb  Sebeutung,  unb  blo^in  bemfelben 
©rabe,  in  melcbem  er  feinem  fittlidben  Stfede  bient,  fann  er  audb  feinen  pb^jR- 
fdben  3wederreidbenunb  bem  Seibe  beS  2Jlenf(ben  jur  loa^ren  Gr^olung  bienen. 


15 

II. 

2)er  Sonntag  ift  nämli^)  einer  ber  ®runb)3feiler  beä  lüofjlgeorbneten  ^ami« 
lienlebeng,  foiüie  ber  öffentlid^enOvbnung  unb6itt[icfefeit  in  jebem  ©emeinmefen. 
S)aruni  [te^t  iai^  6abbat{)ge|elj  nic^t  unter  ben  Geremonialgeboten,  fonbern  in 
bem  6itt  enge  fei}  a(»eine^beräe^n  ©cbote,  n3elc^efeitbembiefittli(^eS3ai"iy  nic^t 
nur  be»  jübifc^en,  fonbern  oder  d}riftHd)en  Staaten  gebilbet  fiaben,  unb  bis  an'ä 
6nbe  ber  Qiit  bilben  loerbcn.  ®iefe  Stellung  ift  üon  ber  größten  S3ebeutung 
für  bie  allgemeine  fittlic^e  9Totl)n)enbigfeit  unb  SBidtitigfeit  eine»  lüi3d}entli(^en 
9lul;etage»  unb  ein  gemaltige»  Strgunient  ju  ©unften  ber  angto  =  anievifanifct)en 
Sonntagä=2;l;corie  unb  ^rayig  im  ©egenfa^  gegen  bie  layeren  2lnfid}ten  ttieter 
3;f)eDlogen  beio  Sontinent».  äßarum  I)at  @ott,  ber  atlmeife  unb  aüiuiffenbe  (Sott, 
in  bem  SOhiftcrgefelibud),  baä  bie  ©efe^gebung  beg  Solon  unb  Stjhirgu»  unb  aller 
2Beifen  bei5  2lltert^um§  überlebt  ^at  unb  ^eute  noi^  fo  mabr,  fo  einleud)tenb,  fo 
uncntbel;rlic^  ift  al$  je,  bie  Sabbatl)öfeier  mitten  in  bie  allgemeinen  unb  emig 
gültigen  Sittengefe^e  l}ineingef(^oben,  unb  bieSabbatl)öfi^änbuug  ebenfo  ernftli(^ 
oerboten  al^  ben  ©ö^ienbienft,  ba^  glucken  unb  Sdjiuören,  ben  Ungeborfam  gegen 
bie  Gltern,  ben  SJlorb,  ben  @l)ebrud},  ben  2)icbftal)l  unb  bie  93erläumbung  bes 
aZdcbften?  @emi§  lä^t  fid^  biejj  nur  burd)  bie  Stnnabme  eines  engen  ^ufammen^ 
i{iang§  beg  Sabbatljä  mit  ber  öffentlidien  Sittlid^leit,  mit  bem  SBotjl  unb  2Be§e 
«iner  3^ation  erlldren. 

6ben  barum  lä^t  fid)  aud^  üon  üornenljerein  gar  nid^t  benfen,  baf]  (Ebriftug, 
ber  nad^  feiner  eigenen  ßrlldrun^  nid)t  gefommen  ift  ba»  @efe^  aufjutöfen,  fons 
Sern  3U  erfüllen,  ba§  vierte  ©ebot  feinem  Sßefen  nacl;  aufgel)oben  ober  aud^ 
nur  abgefd^mäd^t  f)aben  follte.  StUerbing»  lüurbe  ber  Sabbatlj  oom  fiebten  auf 
Sen  erften  2;ag  ber  Söodie  »erlegt,  n»eil  6l)riftuö  am  erften  Söoi^entage  auferftan^ 
oen  ift  unb  baburd^  bie  bösere  geiftige  Scböpfung  unb  bie  ©rlöfung  ber  Sßelt 
^oUenbet  ^at.  Sa»  ift  aber  blo^  eine  S^eränberung  ber  duneren  jeitlid^en  j^orm, 
2iic^t  bf§  SBefeng.  ®er  alte  jübifc^e  Sabbatl)  ift  mit  6|)rifto  begraben  morben, 
anb  am  erften  2Bod}entage  fiegreicl)  unb  oerfldrt  al§  d^riftlicber  Sonntag,  al§ 
©ebenttag  ber  fittlid)en  Sc^iöpfung,  als  greubentag  ber  oollenbeten  ©rtöfung 
toieber  auferftanben.  Stllerbingg  treten  ßbriftu»  unb  bie  Slpoftel  in  mebreren 
Stellen  be»  3leuen  Xeftamentg  bem  abergldubifcl)eu,  ftlaoifc^en,  tüerfgeredjten 
^f)arifdifd)en  Sabbatbigmug,  hjie  überhaupt  allem  töbtenben  33ud}ftabenbienft 
unb  aller  fd)einl)eili9en.^euc^elei,entfd)ieben  entgegen,  aber,  tt)oblt»erftanben  !  uid^t 
IVL  ©unften  ber  profanation  beg  S  o  n  n  tagg,  fonbern  umgefe^rt  im  ©egenfa|5  gegen 
bie  gJrofanation ber  SBod^entage  unb  im  ^ntereffe  ber  Heiligung  aller  Sage. 
Sag  ift  ein  ^immelmeiter  Unterfc^ieb.  Sie  Sabbatl)feinbe  trollen  alle  3eit  unb 
aße  2lrbeit  im  Sienfte  berSBelt  unb  Selbftfucbt  profaniren;  ßb^ftug  unb  ^$aulug 
iDollen  alle  3eit  unb  alle  Slrbeit  bem  Sienfte  unb  ber  ei)re  ©otteg  gebeiligt  feigen. 
Sag  ift  ber  ibeale  Stanbpunlt,  ber  bem  ©Triften  allerbing»  ftetg  alg  3iel  be»  Stre= 
beng  unb  bet  Sebnfucbt  »or  Slugen  fd)lüeben  foil,  unb  beraucb  bereinft  im  Sen= 
feitg,  in  bem  enitgen  Sabbatb  beg  Sßolfeg  ©otteg  oerH)ir!lid)t  werben  mitb.  33on 
bemfelben  ibealen  Stanbpunfte  oerbietet  ber  .§crr  ben  ßib,  ber  allerbingg  in 
einem  ^uftanbe  tollfommener  SBabrbaftigteit  loegfaUen  rcirb,  ja  unter  irabren 
G^riften  fcbon  ^iei^unnütbig  ift,  in  einer  gemifcbten  SBelt  coli  2üge  unb  Srug 
fiber  ni(^t  iVol)l  entbehrt  werben  !ann.    ßbenfofinb  wir  in  bieferunoomommenen 


16 

fßelt  nod)  immer  auf  einen  SBec^fel  3rt»i[c^en2lrbcit  unb9hil;e,  ätüif(i}en2ßcrftai]en 
unb  Sonntag  angemiefen,  unb  gerabe  ber  Sonntag  unb  feine  hJürbige  g-eier  ifl 
bie  befte  unb  unentbel)vlid}e  5Borbereitung  jur  |)erbeifü^rung  jene»  loealen  ^\i~ 
ftanbe§,  iro  jeber  Jag  Sonntag,  unb  jebeä  SQBerf  ©ottesbienft  unb  feliger  ©enu^ 
fein  hjirb. 

S)at)er  finben  wir  benn  au(^  bie  ^^eier  bei  Sonntags,  aU  ,,be§  Jage!  be3 
^errn,"  fd^on  in  ber  apoftolifc^fen  unb  nad^apoftolifc^en  Äivd^e  unb  feitbem  un« 
unterbrochen  mit  größerer  ober  geringerer  Strenge  oberfiajfjeit  in  allen  d^riftUc^en 
Säubern  unb  3af)r^unberten  bi§  auf  unfere  2;age.  Unb  fobalb  bal  6^riftentf)um 
nac^  breif)unbertiäl)rigem  ^ampf  für  feine  ßy iftenj  üom  römifd^en  Staate  anerf annt 
mar,  erliefen  Sonftantin  ber  ©ro^e  unb  feine  3Ra^fo(gc  fof ort  ©efe^e  für  bie  b  ü r  s 
g erliefe  «^eier,  ober  öielme^r  ©efe^e  gegen  bie  bürgerliche Gntmeif)ung  unb  gut 
2Bal)rung  ber  religiöfen  g^eier  bei  d^riftlid^en  Sonntagl.  Sotd^e  negatiüe  unb 
protectiüe  ©efe^e  Don  größerer  ober  geringerer  Strenge  giebt  el  in  allen  d;riftli(^ 
ciüilifirten  Säubern,  unb  gmar  merfmürbiger  SBeife  üorsugimeife  gerabe  in  ben« 
jenigen,  mo  am  meiften  bürgerliche  unb  religiöfe  i5reil)eit  l^errfd)t,  mie  in  ber 
Sc^meij,  in  ^ollanb,  ßnglanb  unb  Scbottlanb. 

SSor  allem  aber  jeic^net  fic^  bal  amerüanifd^e  33ol!,  ba§  freiefte  unb  lebenl« 
fräfttgfte  2?olf  unferel  3eita[terl,  burd)  ftrenge  Sonntagifeier  axi§.  5)iefer  3w9 
ift  mabrlic^  feine  feiner  Sc^mäc^en  unb  HJtängel,  fonbern  umgeleljrt  ein  3eid}en 
feiner  fittlic^en  Stärfe  unb  Selbftbefierrfd^unglfraft,  ein  Seroeil  feiner  5Äf)ig' 
feit  gum  ©enuffe  »ernünftiger  ^^rei^eit,  unb  ein  ßrflärunglgrunb  feinel  beifpiet* 
lofen  ©ebeibenl  unb  feiner  roeltgefc^id)tlict)en  ©röf5e.  5)i'efe  Sonntagifeier  ift 
^ier  ein  urfprünglic^el  (3eWaä)^  unb  ein  gemeinfamer  93eft^,  an  roclc^icm  alle 
c^riftlii^en  Benennungen  3;beil  ^aben.  ßl  ift  befannt,  ba^  bie  puritanifd^en 
$ilgert»äter,  bie  ©rünber  öon  5Reu=@nglanb,  gleid(;  ben  erften  Sonntag  nad)  il)rer 
Sanbung  in  ^Ipmoutb  Siod,  im  2a))u  1620,  im  falten  December,  troj3  aller  ^in= 
berniffe  ber  erften  2lnfieblung,  ol^ne  Dbbad^  unb  in  raufier  Söilbnijj,  auf  bie 
ftrengfte  unb  roürbigfte  SBeife  feierten.  ®iefe  puritanifcfie  Sitte  ift  tief  in  ben 
amerifanifd^en  9lational(^arafter  eingebrungen  unb  allgemeine  33Dl!-?fittc  ge= 
morben.  Sie  bat  groar  mit  bem  SBadjItbum  einer  beterogcnen  93eo5lfcrung  üicl 
üon  if)rer  urfprünglid^en,  jum  3;beit  allerbtngl  rauljen  unb  übertriebenen 
Strenge  »erloren,  befonberl  in  ben  großen  Seeftäbten,  roo  bie  Sonntag|:©cfe^e 
neuerbingl  toielfac^  burcb  bie  ^Rac^fidit  einer  fd^roacben  unb  d^araftevlofen  Slbmi: 
niftration  jum  tobten  93uii)ftabcn  berabgefunfen  finb,  fann  aber  nie  aulgerottet 
»erben,  ^aä  amerifanif(^e  55olf  roirb  fid)  ben  roöd^enttic^en  9iuf)ctag  nie  rauben 
ober  in  einen  Sag  ber  roeltlicben  3erftreuung  unb  Suftbarfeit  cerfebren  taffen. 
2)ie  Sonntaglgcfe|e  Don  9tem=3)orf  ftef)en  nicbt  »ereinjelt  ba;  alle  anbern  Staa« 
ten  unferer  5lepublif,  mit  3Iulnal)me  Don  einem  ober  groei,  roo  bal  fransöfifd^e 
ober  fpanifd^e  Clement  Dor^errfd)t,  baben  äbnlid^e,  gum  Zl)eil  Diel  ftrengerc 
©efe^e. 

5Run  tritt  unl  aber  ^iet  gleich  bie  populäre  unb  oft  micberbolte  Ginroenbung 
entgegen,  ba^  bet  Staat  nidbtl  mit  ber  Äircbe  5U  tbun  l)abe,  unb  ba^  bie 
Sonntaglgefe^e  ber  amerifanifdben  ©laubenl«  unb  Gultulfreibeit  miber« 
fpredben,  alfo  eigentlich  conftitutioninjibrig  feien,  .folgli^  aufgehoben  roerben 
fottten. 


17 

Siefe  Ginmenbung  ru^t  junädjft  auf  einem  ööüigen  SRi^oerftänbni^  ber  D^atur 
unb  2(bficf)t  ber  amerifani|cf}en  Sonntag^gefe^e.  6ie  [inb  ndmlic^  gar  nic^t 
coerciü  ober  jmingenb,  fcnbern  b(of5  prctectio  ober  befcbügenb;  [ie  finb  rtidit 
fomD{)(  pcfitiö,  aly  negatiü;  fie  gebieten  nic^t  bie  ©cnntagsfjeiligung,  [onbern 
»erbieten  bicfs  bie  Scnntag^entbeitigung;  fie  ^mingen  91iemanben  in  bie  ^irc^e 
ju  ge^en,  fonbern  befd^ü^en  blo^  bie  Äird^engänger  in  if)ren  burd)  bie  ®lauben;S= 
unb  @eiüiffensfreil;eit  bes  £anbe»  ifjnen  gemäbrten  unb  verbürgten  Siedeten, 
©iejs  gilt  felbft  üom  2(ltte[tamentli(^en  Sabbat^gebot;  e»  [agt  ni^t:  am  (£ab= 
batf)  foüft  bu  bie  ©tiftsbütte  ober  ben  Sempel  befudjen  unb  beine  Opfer  bringen, 
fonbern:  5)u  foUft  am  6abbotb  feine  2llltag§rtierfe  »erricfiten,  »reber  bu,  nod]  bein 
6obn,nocb  beine  Jocbter,  ncdb  bein  Änec^t,  nodb  beine  2Ragb,  S)er  Staat  üerf)ä(t 
ficb  3ur  ilird^e  ungefäbr  luie  ber  Seib  jur  Seele,  ober  trie  ba^  ©efe^  jum  ßt)ange= 
lium.  Gr  bat  mit  ber  inneren  ©efinnung,  mit  bei  fubjectiüen  Sittlicbfeit  unb 
5ßriüatfrömmigfeit,  fofern  fie  nicbt  mit  ben  Diecbten  2(nberer  in  Gonflift  gerdtb, 
nicbtio  äu  tbun,  unb  barf  bie  ©eiüiffenärecbte  nii^t  einfdjränfen ;  irobl  aber  ift 
6)0  feine  ^ftid^t,  bie  ijffentli($e  ©ittlic[}feit  unb  bie  freie  2(u»übung  ber  D^eligion 
ju  lt)al;ren  unb  ju  f(f)ü|en.  Gr  barf  m<i)t  gebieten:  2;u  follft  beinen  3iäd}ften 
lieben  unb  ifjm  ©ute»  tbun;  föobl  aber  mu^  er  »erbieten,  bem  9iäd}ften  ju 
f(^aben,  unb  mu^  bat;er  bie  S3erläumbung,  ben  Siebftabl  unb  ben  2Rorb  beftra  = 
fen.  Gbenfo  barf  er,  mie  fd)on  eriuäbnt,  and)  niäjt  bie  Sonntagsfeier  unb  ben 
©Dttesbienft  gebieten;  lüof)!  aber  barf  unb  muf3  er,  fo  lange  er  auf  ben  9tamen 
eineio  d^riftlic^cn  2(nfprucb  madjt,  bie  Sonntagsentmeibung  unb  bie  Störung  be» 
©ottesbienfte»  üerbieten  unb  nötl^iigenfall»  beftrafen,  unb  feinen  ^Bürgern  bie 
e^eier  be!§  Sonntag^  unb  bie  Slueübung  ibrer  Gultusfrei^eit  möglidi  mad;en. 
S)aä  ift  alles,  unb  nidjtü  meljr  unb  niditio  ireniger,  ma»  mir  ücm  Staate  unb 
feiner  ©efe|3gebung  »erlangen. 

5Run  menbet  man  aber  meiter  ein,  ber  amerifanifd&e  Staat  fei  ja  gar  fein 
cbriftlicber,  fo  menig  al^  ein  jübifcber,  ober  muljamebanifd)er,  ober  beibnifcber;  er 
üerbalte  fi(i}  gegen  alle  DfJeligion  gans  gleid}gültig  unb  muffe  bie  9?eligionylofig; 
feit  unb  ben  2(tl)eiömus  ebenfo  frei  geroäbren  laffen,  als  irgenb  eine  gorni  ber 
Steligion. 

Sülerbing»  finb  .ßird^e  unb  Staat  nid)t  nur  in  unfcrer  @eneral:9?egierung, 
fonbern  audb  in  allen  einzelnen  Staaten  unb  Territorien,  mit  Slusnabme  be>? 
ganj  abnormen  unb  blo^  temporären  iDIormonenftaates,  getrennt.  Slllein  biefe 
Slrennung  rul)t  nicbt  auf  ©eringfd}ä^ung  ber  Religion  unb  ^ird)e,  fonbern  auf 
tiefer  2ld)tung  »or  beiben.  Unfere!ReUgions=  unb  ßultuäfreil^eit  ift  nid;t  eine  nega-- 
ti»e  ^reibeit,  ober  Gmancipation  »on  ber  9{eligion,  fonbern  eine  pofiti»e  greibeit 
jur  ^ieligion,  bie  al§>  ^u  bod}  unb  beilig  für  bie  politifdje  ©efetigebung  angefe; 
ben,  unb  baber  bem  freien  ©emiffen  be^o  Ginjelnen  in  feinem  Sßerbältni^  3;!  ©ott 
unb  ben  fird)lid)en  iiörperfdjaften  überlaffen  mirb.  S)er  2(merifaner  betrad;tet 
Die  Dieligiong:  unb  Gultusfreibeit  eben  fo  mie  bie  9iebe=  unb  ^-]]reJ3freibeit,  melcbe 
in  bem  befannten  Slrtifel  ber  g-cberal^Gonftitution  jufammcn  genannt  merben, 
alle  eine»  ber  unüeräuJ3erlid}en  ©runbre(^te  einc^  amerifanifcben  33ürgery  unb 
oerlangt  »on  ber  Dtegierung,  ba^  fie  jeben  Untertbanen  in  biefem  3lecbte,  mie  in 
feiner  $erfon  unb  feinem  Gigentbum  befcbü|en  foil.  Sa  nun  bie  gro^e  SJkffe 
be§  SSoIfes  fid^  jum  Gbriftent^um  in  feinen  »erfcbiebenen  gormen  befennt  unii 


18 

ben  Sabbati}  3ur  2(u^n"ibiing  beg  Q,ljx\)lent\)um§  für  uncntbebrUcf}  f)ätt,  fo  imif,  bie 
Dlegievung  fi^on  nad)  bem  repub(ifani)"d}em  ©ruiibfalic  ber  3)iaiotitäten^evv[c{)aft 
'ü)\m\  ben  SJSongenu^  iljxn  C£)ri)"tenred}te  unb  bie  'Jtusiibung  i{;ver  (ibrifteiipfUc^: 
ten,  ai\o  unter  anberm  auc^  bie  Jeier  be^i  gottlid?  eingefeliten  ^tuf^etag^  möglich 
mad}eu,  unb  [ie  barin  befc^üljen. 

Sie  Trennung  beic  Staate»  ücn  ber  iiixdjc  i[t  nic^tsS  »reniger  al»  eine  3:ren-- 
nung  ber  3Zation  nom  6I)riftent(;um;  üielmel^r  ift  bie  amerifanifcfee  9Iation 
üiel  entfd)iebener  djriftlid^,  al»  irgeub  eine  i)iation  ber  alten  SBelt,  luobie  beiben 
2)lcid}te  iier[d}mol3en  finb.  S)aö  (Sl;riftentl;um  i)"t  ein  Sl^eil  unfereiä  ücn  (fnglanb 
ererbten  gemeinen  3\ed}ti§  (Common  Law),  ift  mit  all  unfern  Stnfc^auungen 
unb  Sitten  öeriüoben,  be^errfd}t  unfere  bäu»lid}en  ©inricbtungen  unb  gan^c 
Giuilifation  unb  ift  bie  einzig  mögliche  9teligion  für  Slmerifa.  ©erabe  föeil  eä 
^ier  nicbt  üon  ber  Staat^^getüalt  aufge^mungcn,  fonberu  uon  il}v  blof;  befc^ül^t 
»uirb,  ift  e«  nur  um  fo  mäcbtiger  unb  cinfluJ5reid}er.  2ßol)er  benn  bie  üielen 
taufenb  iUrd^en  unb  ©eiftlid^en;  luober  bie  ^ibel  =  ,  ll)iiffiony=  unb  ^^raftatgefell? 
fd)aften  mit  ibren  enormen  Ginnabmen ;  \vol)cx  bie  3abUofen  (^riftlid}  religiöfen 
unb  pbilfl"tl;ropifd)en  3(nftaUen,  ^Bereine  unb  Siebe-Jmerfe,  obne  ben  geringften 
Seitrag  aiiS^  ber  Staat^laffe,  alle  gegrünbet,  geboben  unb  getragen  burd}  ben 
freien  Sßillen  beS  ^Solfe»?  Sinb  fie  nidit  eben  fo  t>iele  33etr>eife  unb  Gl)renben!= 
mälcr  ber  6l}riftlid}teit  ber  amerifanifd}eu  Station  ? 

:3a,  bai§  (Eljriftent^um  ift  nid)t  nur  bie  i)ietigion  be^  SanbeiS,  fonbern  oud}  bie 
ein3ig  fefte  ©runblage  ber  amerifanifd)cn  Stepublif,  obne  meldjev'  bicfe  nid}t  fecb^ 
3abre  befleißen  !önnte.  S)a!§  ift  bie3lnfid}t  ber  bebeutenbften  unb  lüeifeften  amerifas 
uifd}eu  Staatsmänner.  „Jöäbrenb  eine  geredete  SJegierung,"  fagt  3Ba»^ington, 
ber  unfterblid}e  Sßater  biefer  9tepublif,  ber  felbft  ein  gottei'fürc^tiger  unb  bibel: 
gläubiger  'Dlann  mar,  „alle  33ürger  in  ibren  religiöfen  ^'Hedjten  befd}ü(5t,  fo  ift  an= 
bererfeitS  mal;re  Stcligion  ber  fid}erftc  Sd}ul3  ber  ;){egierung."  Unb  jioar  oerftaub 
er  unter  Dieligion  nid}tö  anbere«;  aU  'üa'^  Cbriftcntbnm.  „'3)av  ameritanifc^e 
3Solf,"  bemertt  fein  J-reuub  unb  iMograpb»  Ts^ljn  'fliarfball,  ber  erfte  Oberrid)ter 
beio  oberften  ©erid}tc-bof!c  ber  ^Bereinigten  Staaten,  „ift  ein  burd}au'5  d)riftlid}e» 
äJoll;  unb  bei  unS  finb  ßbriftentbum  unb  3{eligion  C'inS  unb  baffelbe.  (Se  märe 
in  ber  2l)at  fonberbar,  n^enn  bie  3>M'titiiti'-''nen  eine»  fold^en  3.>oÜey  nidbt  überall 
tai^  6bviftentl;um  t>orau§feMen."  Ser  Oberrid}ter  ^ofepl;  ©torp,  fein  goUegc 
unb  ber  berübmtcfte  Sluäleger  unferer  Gonftitutiou,  fagt  non  bem  oben  berübrten 
5lrtitel  über  bie  ;){eligionc^freil)eit:  „Sie  eigeutlid}e  ^Ibfubt  biefe»  3"fal3e!&*  mar 
nidit,  ben  9}tul)amebani!omu;S,  ober  baiS  ^ubentbum,  ober  ben  Unglauben  3U  be= 
fii}ül3en,  no(^  üiel  meniger  ju  beförbern  unb  ba§  6b>^iftcntbum  3U  benaditbeiligen; 
fonbern  blog,  alle  politifd}e  9{iüalität  smifcben  ben  V)erfd)iebenen  dn-iftlid^en  Se= 
nennungen  aue3nfd}lief5en  unb  bie  Ohiinbung  einer  Staati.^tir(^e  mit  einer  auy; 
fdilief?lid}  üon  ber  Sktionalregierung  begünftigten  .r)ierard}ie  3U  uerbinbern." 
„Senn,"  fäbrt  er  fort,  „3ur  3eit  ber  Slnnabme  ber  Gouftitution  unb  ber  3ufä|}c 
mar  eio  mabrfdjeinlid)  bie  berrfd)enbe,  mo  nid)t  allgemeine  Slnficbt  in  2lmerit'a,  bafj 

*  3!m  cvftcii  SJUtifcl  ticv  3ii[ii^c  :  "  Congivss  shall  make  no  law  rospc-cting  un  estab- 
lishment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof ;  or  abridging  the  freedom 
of  speech,  or  of  the  press ;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to 
petition  the  government  for  a  redress  of  grievances." 


19 

bas  ßf)rt[tentf)um  ücm  Staate  begünfti^t  iinb  gei'd}üi;.t  mcvben  folle,  [o  \vc\t  bie& 
mit  ben  ^$nt>atrcd}teu  be»  ©eiüiffen»  unb  mit  ber  grcifjeit  beä  religtöfen  Gitituä 
»ereinbar  ift.  Gin  2ßevfu(i),  alle  ^teligicnen  gleid}  3U  [teilen,  unb  e§  jur  Staate-- 
pDÜtit  gu  madicu,  gegen  alle  gleicf)  inbiffevent  311  [ein,  irürbe  allgemeine  9JU^bil= 
ligung,  lüo  nid)t  allgemeine  Gntvü[tung  (universal  disapprobation,  if  not  univer 
sal  indignation)  fjemorgenifen  l^aben."  Ser[elbe  ^ubge  Storp  erflävt:  ,,5röm= 
migfeit,  9ieligion  unb  Sittlidifeit  [inb  au[e^  Snnig[te  mit  ber  2ß!:f)t[abrt  eine» 
Staate»  üeriroben  unb  für  bie  2tbmini[tration  ber  bürgerlichen  ©ered)tigfeit  un; 
entbebrlidi  (indispensable.)"  Dead)  3^anicl  2öeb[ter,  ber  [icb  ben  ßfjrennamcn 
be»2lu!S(eger»ber  Gonftitution  erlücrben  bat,  [prid}t  alles  bafür,  baf,  bas  (ibri[ten: 
tf^um  unb  nur  bav  6f)riftentt)um  bie  anerfannte  Sieligion  ber  ^vereinigten  Staaten  i[t. 

Unb  nun  tocllen  bie  rotf)en  Siepublifaner,  melt^e  ungerufenju  un»  famen  cber 
ju  fcnimen  genctbigt  inaren  unb  bie  0a[t[reunb[d>a[t  bie[e^  Sanbe»  unbanfbar 
mi^braudjen,  un»  belel;ren,  baf3  un[ere  ©e[e^e  unb  Jreiljeit  religioneloö  imn 
unb  bag  6l)ri[tent{)um  mit  bem  2ltf)ei»mu»  auf  Gine  Stu[e  [teilen !  2Bal^rlic^ 
biefe  -Ferren  l}aben  eine  grunb[al[d}e  33Dr[tellung  üom  amerifani[d)en  9tational= 
6f)aratter  unb  mü[[en  nc<ii  'i>a§  31  S3  (£  ber  lual^ren  ^reibeit  lernen.  S)ie  rotf>: 
repubtifanifd)e  unb  bie  amerifani[d}e  5reif)eit  Ijaien  nicbt»  mit  einanber  gemein 
aU  ben  3iamcn.  i^ene  greil^eit  i[t  rein  negatiö  unb  be[tebt  blog  im  <§a[[e  gegen 
e5ür[ten  unb  ^[affen,  gegen  alle  be[d}rdnfenben  @e[etie  unb  Sitten ;  [ie  i[t  in 
2Bal)rl;eit  3ügeUo[igfeit  bes  ^-leifcbe»  unb  eben  barum  bie  elenbe[te  Sflaüerei  ber 
£eiben[d}aft;  fie  mu[5  im  Staate  nctl^iuenbig  gur  2(nardjie  unb  bann,  auf  bem 
SBege  ber  unausbteiblid^en  Dieaftion,  ^um  militäri[d}en  S'e[potiÄntUi3  fübren. 
Sdjiagenbe  Seireife  bafür  tiefern  bie  erfte  fran35[i[d»e  Dienoluticn  unb  bie  pfeubo- 
republifanifdien  'Diipgeburten  be»  i^aljre»  1848,  meldten  lüir  bie  Giniranberung  fo 
üielerüerunglüdtenunbüerjagten  Jrcibeit»:  ober  3ügellD[igfeit»t;elben  verbauten. 

2)er  3lmeritaner  bagegen  fann  fid)  inbiüibueüe  unb  nationale  5i-'ei(''-'it  nur 
benfen  auf  ©runblage  ber  unantaftbaren  lUutorität  be»  ©e[efee»  unb  unter  ber 
58ebingung  bei5  [cgenannten  self-government,  b.  b-  ber  fittlid}en  .f)evrfd}aft  be-» 
^Bürger»  unb  be»  2}clfc»  über  fid)felbft.  Senn  ta§  SBörtlein  „[elb[t"  ober  seif  ift 
in  bie[em  berübmten  So[ungeiiiDrte  anglo^amerifanifcber  greibeit  nid}t  al;»  3io; 
minatit»  unb  Subje!t  ju  faffen,  mie  in  bem  ruffifd)en  2Borte  ,,Selbft:<0errfd)er," 
self-ruler,  »elcbe»  bie  au£^fcblief5lid)e  ^perrfcbaft  @ine5  äBiüen»,  be;»  Gjaren,  über 
bae  ganse  2>Dlf,  alfo  ba»  ^^rincip  be-J  abfohlten  Sefpotiemu»  aui^brüdt,  fonbern 
e»  ift  ba»  Objeft  unb  3eigt  an,  bafe  jeber  fid)  felbft  ein  ©efeti  unb  über  alle  feine 
2eibenfd}aften  .§err  fein  muffe,  et)e  er  jur  5reif)eit  reif  ift.  ^n  äl;nlid}em  Sinne 
fagt  ber  gröj^te  beutfd^e  S)id)ter  ebenfo  toa\)x  aU  fc^ön : 

,,3ii  ber  23ct"ctnäufiiiig  nur  jcigt  fid)  t»ev  S)kiflcr, 
Unb  bai5  ®cfc|  nur  fann  bir  §vcit;ett  geben." 

^a,  nad)  amerifanifcber  unb  überbaupt  nai^  ber  rid)tigen  2lnfid)t  ift  nur  ber 
ein  irtal)rbaft  freier  2Rann,  ber  fid)  felbft  ©efe|  ift  unb  iebem  beftebenbcn  ©efetje 
um  be»  ©eiuiffeng  föillen  ficb  freubig  unterwirft.  Unb  ber  leiste  ©runb  biefer 
üernünftig  fittlid)en  greibeit  ober  Selbftbeftimmung  ift  bie  ©otteiSfurcbt. 
3htr  wer  ien  ^errn  aller  ^erren  fürd)tet,  braudit  fid)  i->or  feinem  irbifd)en  itönig 
unb  itaifer  3U  fürd)ten ;  nur  mer  fid)  von  ©ctt  abbängig  fül)lt,  ift  nnabbangig  üon 
3Jlenfd)en;  ber  Sienft  ©otte»  ift  bie  lüabre  grei^cit.     Sa»  m.ir  bie  oreiboit  ber 


20 

alten  Puritaner  unb  erften  Slnfiebler  he^  Sanbe»,  ber  ^ollänber,  Hugenotten,  bet 
Oudfer,  ber  beutfd^en  £ut[;eraner  unb  91efcrmirten  unb  2111er,  bie  um  i^reä 
©(aubcuie^  »üiKen  bic  33equemlid}fciten  be;«  Saterlanbeä  mit  ber  rau[;en  2Bilbni^ 
üertaufcf)tcn  unb  2llle^  opferten,  um  Gott  nad)  iljrem  eigenen  ©cmiffcn  anbeten 
ju  fönncn.  5)ie  @ctte'?furd}t  Iiat  [ie  frei  unb  ftart  unb  3U  Si>ätern  eine»  uners 
meHlid)cu  Gkfi^Iei^t»  unb  ber  grofuirtigften  Diepublif  ber  2Beltgefd)id)te  gemacbt. 
Soio  ift  nod}  jeljit  bie  3'rei(}eit  jebec-'  ächten  älmerifaner»;  bas  bic  grei(;cit,  bie  unä 
burd)  bie  l*anbe!Sgefet;e  unb  Sanbe-^fitte  verbürgt  ift,  toäbrcnb  ber  iliifibrauc^  ber 
^reibeit  unb  bie  ^uc^ttofigfeit  I;ier,  mie  in  jebem  anbern  Sanbe,  ber  geredeten 
Strafe  unterliegt. 

[Jpicr  U'-auttc  fidj  ber  Stcbiiev  in  cnglifrf)ei-  Spiad)c  au  bic  anwcfcnbcn  3lnglo=?lmeri« 
fanev  mit  mcl)i-crcii  Sc>''J9tnt  juc  33cftätiguntj  bcö  ®cfagten,  weldjc  cinftimmig  mit  3a  be« 
antwcitct  untvbcii.] 

®ie  0)efd}id}te,  biefeä  bibattifcbe  Helbengebi($t  ®otte§,  biefe  grofse  £el)rerin 
ber  SBeiöbeit  unb  (5rfat)rung,  fjat  längft  unb  üielfad)  ben  pofitiüen  unb  negatit»en 
5Beh)eiy  geliefert,  baf?  nur  eine  fold)e  greil^eit,  bie  auf  fittlid)er  ^a[h>  xnljt,  mit 
ßbrfurdjt  üor  ©efejj  unb  Orbnung  ^^anb  in  ^^anb  gebt  unb  üon  bor  C)ottec^furd}t 
unb  2;ugenb  beö  S>olfe'S  genäljrt  unb  getragen  mirb,  befleißen  unb  ein  2>olf  glü(f= 
lid}mad}en  fann,  roäljrenb  jener  reoolutiondre,  fittenlofe  unbreligionolofe  libera» 
liömuy  alle  ©runblagen  ber  ©efellfdiaft  jerftört  unb  mit  ©(^mad)  unb  2d}anbe  enbet. 

Söabre  greibeit  ftel;t  alfo  nicbt  im  äöiberfprud}  mit  6t)rfurd}t  r>or  öottcio  l)ei= 
Ugem  3Borte  unb  ©efe^e,  alfo  and)  nidjt  mit  Gljrfurdjt  cor  feinem  bciligen  Sage, 
fonbern  mirb  umgefei)rt  baburcb  nur  geftüt3t  unb  geförbert.  "Without  support 
from  religion,"  fagt  ein  auogeseidjueter  ameritanifd)er  Scbriftfteller,  "  all  human 
freedom  moulders  and  topples  into  irretrievable  ruiu."  Saber  biirfen  lüir 
uuio  and)  nid)t  munbern  über  bie  bebeutungyoolle,  fd)on  oben  berübrte  2;batfa(^e, 
baf5  gcrabe  bie  freiften  a>i3lter  ber  9Bclt,  bie  ©d^meijer,  bie  §ollänber,  nor  allem 
aber  bie  Gnglänbcr  unb  2lmerifancr  bie  ftrengftcn  33eobac^ter  be«  ©onntag»,  aiB 
cine'?  ftillen,  gottgemcil^ten^HubetagC'ü  finb,  unb  ibrej^reil^eit  gerabe  in  bemfelben 
^a]ic  beiüabren  unb  genief,en,  al»  fie  in  ber  gurcbt  unb  Siebe  ju  ©ottee  b^-'ilisem 
SBorte  unb  ©efe^e  üerbarren. 

Ser  tuobltbatige  fittlid)e  (5influf3  einer  mürbigcn  ©onntagc-fcier  auf  taä 
g^amilientoben,  bic  cffcntlid}e  Ovbnung  unb  nationale  SBoblfabrt  tanu  Icidjt  burd) 
beniicntvaft  jiüifdienbem  !ontinental-europdifd}en,  befonber^  parififd}en,  nn'i)  bem 
anglD:amcriEanifd}en  Sonntag  unb  feinen  unmittelbaren  ffiirhingcn  anfd}aulid) 
gcmacbt  nicrbcn.  "^dj  frage  b'*-'»-"  i*^t)en  ber  anmefenbcn  iUmerifancr,  bie  ben 
europäifcben  itontinent  jum  3;l;eil  mebrmal»  befud^t  bciben,  ob  fie  nid}t  bei  aller 
a3ciüunbcrung  nor  bem  inelen  .r-)crrlid)en,  Sd)önen  unb  ©utcn  in  ber  alten  2Belt, 
bocb  gerabe  burd)  bie  leiber  fo  bdufige  Sabbatb»fd}änbung  unb  ibrc  traurigen 
folgen  fd)mer3lid)  berübrt  mürben  unb  in  bicfem  'fünfte  menigfteniö  mit  boppclter 
2(d}tung  unb  Siebe  ju  il^rem  ameritanifcben  Sabbatl)  3urüdgctebrt  finb  ^ 

[^tcv  foibcitc  ber  3iiebncv  |>erni  3)v.  9t.  «g»  itrfjcüif,  *lJvüfeffor  amSÜtjecl.  ©oniinavber 
^rei^ln)terianifct)cn  Äivcl}e  in  DJcm^iOorf,  unb  etucu  giüublid)cii  jtcnucf  unb  33cwuubcret 
ber  beutfd)cu  I'itciatuv,  aii)tung«üoU  auf,  ber  Sicrfammluug  baei  9tcfuUat  feiner  *i3eobad): 
tuug  in  bicfcr  •g»inficl)t  »äl)rcut>  eincö  j>i>eijät)rigcn  sJlufcutbaltc^  iu  (Europa  Vluuo  1848  uuö 
1.849  mit^ut()cilcu.  3)arauf  trat  ■öcrr  Sr.  i}.  Ijeriun-  uub  fpradj  jticrft  iu  einigen  bcutfd)e« 
äöortcn  unb  banu  in  cuglifd^er  ©pract)C,  Pen  bem  Untcrfdjicb  jwifdjcu  bem  rLMuifd):Fati)C5 
lifd}cn  holiday  unb  bem  ciuingelifd)  d,uittlid)cu  holy  day,  banu  iuni  ber  uncrmcfdidjcu 
aöirfung  ber  gicformation  I'utbcref  uuP  (SalvMntJ,  bie  altS  cine  CSid)cl  auf  ben  jungfraulid)en 
83obeu  i'lmevifaö  ncipflan^t,  ungel)cmmt  von  frcmbartigcn  S^rabitioucn  unb  (Siurid}tungcn, 
5U  einem  riefigeu  lSid)baum  ()erangcnMd)fcn  fci,  von  bem  nt)tl)lvcnbigen  3ufammeul}ang 
oiler  »va()rcu  (5(rcibeit  mit  lHd)tuug  I'l^r  gottlid}cr  *Jlutorität,  unb  äufjcrtc  feine  bcljc  j^reube 
iibcr  baö  begonnene  Sufammcuwirfen  ber  beutfdjcn  3)iitbürgcv  jur  2lufred)tt)aUi)ng  ber 
ametifauifdjeu  Sabbat btSfcicr. 

Slufgeforbert,  feine  Sftcbc  jupeltcnbeu,  trat  fobauu  !Dr.  @.  nod)  einmal  auf  uub  fuf)r  in 
bcutfdjcr  i£prad)e  fort  ] 


21 

III. 


piiiliiiliip 

Siechte  fönLu  mir  aber  ot^f.^Pn  "^f- ^''T  ^^^'^feit.      2Rit  bemfelben 


22 


ütrnünftige  Gkfd^öpf  mit  bem  edjöpfer,  ben  ev(oiunc3^3bebuvfti3cu  »len  *en  mit 
bem  en'iaen  UvaucU  a^  Seben^  unb  §ei[§  i^erbmbct.  Sie  ift  3"9(ei^  tai 
ftävtfte  i^anb  bev  ©cfcllfd)aft,  bauevubev  alö  ^-veuubfcbaft  unb  sei!tlid}e^^,witereffe. 
^ic  'Kcliaion  ilt  ba..  tieflte,  adgemcinltc  unb  beilic3lte  Sebüvrnt ;,  bie  3Enirbe  unb 
Hicrbe,  bie  .Urone  unb  ^45evle  bt-^  mcnfd}lid}cn  S^afein^;  Je  ift  ber  macbttgf  e 
^amm  qccicu  Sünbe,  Saftet  unb  Sersmeiflung ;  fic  ift  bic  2)^uttev  be^^  t  /•  ,?" 
ter  Siebe  unb  bev  .f)cffnung;  fie  begeiftevt  su.grcfjcn  ©cbant^en,  eblen  ©efu^ten, 
niit^tid^eu  Sbaten;  fie  lebvt  iDläf^igung  im  ©lüde  unb  ©cbulb  im  Seiben;  fie  gibt 
5s-rieben  im  Sebeu  unb  Svoft  im  Jcbe ;  fie  ücrfnüpft  btv5  Sieifeitö  mit  einem  be1ie= 
reu  Scnfeitg,  unb  üevEldrt  ben  flüd}tigen  Sammer  bev  Grbe  m  ben  eirigen  ^ubel 

^^''^a"""aie''^  gilt  aUx  im  ücllen  Sinn  blcf?  ücm  (.^briftentf^um,  bev  anein  mab  = 
rcnfbev  dlgemein  mcnfdjlidjen,  bev  üctlfcmmenen  ^kligion,  meld)e  bie  al^el5belt 
©vied)enlanb^>,bie  ^^olitit  9bm^3,  bie  93arbavei  bev  gelten,  ©cvmanen  unb  Stallen 
ebne  Sd)mevtftrcid}  befiegt  bat  unb  gemi^  and)  ben  mobevnen  Unglauben  föie  feme 
^cvadugev  übevimnben  mivb,  >üeld)e  jeM  »eitev  verbreitet  unb  tiefer  t^^anmbet 
ift  aU  je  sni^or,  meld)e  bie  ganje  cimlifirte  3}lenfd)beit  beberrid)t,  bac^  Diuber  ber 
Wcltge  d)id)te  fübrt  unb  in  ibrem  frieblid^en  Siegesläufe  fcrtfd}reiten  föirb,  bi. 
;ile  anbereu  Sieligiouen  ibr  in  M^cn  fallen  unb  fi*  ^3jnn  Sobe  beg  Sreieinigen 
mte^-   beö  ecböpfer«,  erlöferö  unb  Solleubcvc^  ber  9Jtenfd}l)eit,  üerenugen. 

ßat  e^  aber  ie  ein  G^riftentbum  in  ber  ffielt  gegeben  obne  gcmemfamen 
©ctte^^bienft?  Unb  ift  gemeinfamer  ©ctleebienft  uad)  ben  ©efel^^u  be?  irbiicb^ 
menfcbtid^en  Sebeng  möglieb  ebne  einen  bciligen  gottgeorbueten  ^"^^^to^g?  .lie 
Arif  lid)en  ßonfeffionen  unb  Seften,  gleid)mel  ob  fie  ben  Urfprung  be. '^abbabS 
auf  ba?  offene  ©rab  be^  ßrlöfer^,  ober  auf  ben  93erg  ©mai  ober  in  ben  ©arten 
eben  suvüdfübren,  gleidjmel  ob  fie  einer  ftveng  puritanild}en  ober  einer  freien 
eüangelifici  2[ufid)t  über  bie  3lrt  unb  Sßeife  feiner  ^eier  bulbigen,  b^^^en  auf 
biefe  ^fragen  nur  eine  unb  biefelbe  Antwort.  .. 

Wa  ber  mödientlidje  Dhibetag  ift  bie  notbioenbige  »ebmgung  ber  regelma|5i= 
aeu'^r'ebigt  be^'  GMugelium^,  be^S  öffcntlidjen  ©ebet,^  unb  ©efange^J  ber  feier= 
liden  WrLltung  ber  Saframente,  furj  aller  g-unltionen  ber  d)nltUd)en  >:.rd)e 
unb  il;veg  unermef;lid)en,  reinigenben,  erbaltenben,  crbobenben  unb  f)c.lujenbcn 
Ginfliffeg  auf  bai  ^Bolfvleben.  Ser  9?ubetag  ift  eine  äl5agenbuvg  um  ba.  Qhw- 
n  1  n  berun;  ein  toöcbcntlid)  mieberfebrenber  ©lodeurnf  jur Jn^e  ?um 
©laiiben,  ur  2^;rföbnung,  jur  ^äiic^nn,  unb  aj^ollenbung;  ein  93  «vre  un 
bem  fid}  bic  roüften  SBogen  bes  ^Jtammoni^mug  unb  eetulari.mu.,  i^e^-^  l^^i^.^  ' 
S  unb  ber  Unfittlid)feit  immerimeber  bredjen;  ein  .^eremfcbetncn  ber  .V'im-- 
mefM-onne  in  bie  Grbennadjt ;  ein  Sßegn^cifer  an§  ber  3eit  m  bie  eiotgteit. 

Unb  m^  in  biefer  ^tubetag  ober  bev  Sag  be-5  C^errn,  —  mie  er  xm  neuen 
^eftamente  im  Unterfd,ieb  «on  bem  jübifd^eu  Sabbatb  unb  bem  be.bniuten 
Sonntage  beifst,  -  für  ben  gläubigen  Gbrifteu  feine^ioeg^  ein  baile.  ©eleMmb 
f*»ücre^^  3od),  fonbern  feiner  urfprünglidien  S3ettnnmung  gemaf?  cm  fanfte. 
eoangelimn  unb  füf5e?  5Borred)t,  eine  toftlidje  C)immelggabe  unb  ©nabcugefd)cnt 
er  erinnert  unö  ja  an  alle  SBobltbatcn  ©ottec>  in  ber  .ollenbeten^cd^omung  unb 
erlöfung,  im  a{eid)c  ber  9ktur  unb  ber  ©uabe.  Gr  ift  ]a  ber  Aag  be^Jluiti^ 
ne  un  ,^än  mcld)em  bev  .^^cn  Sob,  Scufel  unb  ^ölk  befiegt  bat,  f^"--  ou"3ern 
ad  ben  Sebenefüvfteu  fid)  offenbavt  unb  immcv  auf-o  9teue  fem  „tvuebc  fu  m  t 
?ud)  "  ibnen  u  vu  t.  Gr  ift  ja  ber  Sag  ber  3(u.Miiefumg  be^  beUigcn  ©eilte., 
er  feit  cm  !n  bei^ivd^e  gemobnt  bat  unb  un^  fortnnrbrenb  burd)  2Bort  un  ea  = 
!vameut  au^  ber  ginftcrnif,  jum  nntnbejt-baren  Sid)te  be^  ^^^"^^  "^m 
tftalfoein  beiüger  greubentag,  ein  Sag  ber  geiltlid}en  Sonne  ber^aiHlb 
unb  bcg  Sebeng,  ein  Sag  t>c6  5tufgang.  au-3  ber  f^f^V/'\^^l  (^-vf^nSn 
ber  Hucd)tfd)aft,  ein  9ied)t  juv  9hibe  mitten  in  bev  Unrubc  bc.  GibcmULun., 
ei,l^  WbSfenbanl-  auf  ber  ^ilgerfabvt  buvd)  bie  Sßüfte,  ein  Sag  bev  Gvf)olung 


23 

Ttrtb  (Srqutcfung  für  Scib  unb  6eele,  eine  Erinnerung  an  taS  ^arabieo  ber  lln= 
f(f;u[b  unb  ein  SScrfc^mad  be«  emigen  Sabbatb'^  im  ^iinmel,  ido  alle  Grbenarbeit 
fid}  jur  ©otteiC-irulje  unb  alle  3eit  i"  bie  (?lüigfeit  üerflären  unb  fcllenben 
toirb.  S)a'5ift  bie  dc^t  d}riftlid}e,  taä  ift  bie  beutfc^  et»angelifd}e  3(n(d}auung  fiom 
S^age  bes^  i^errn,  tvk  fie  in  bem  Don  un»  angeftimntten  Siebe  meineiS  tljeuren  I'el); 
rer!§  unb  "JreunbesS,  tie§  berüfjmten  3:i)eologen  2)r.  2;i^olud,  fo  fc^ön  unb  (iebs 
lic^  auiSgefprod^en  ift: 

,D  ®cibhati),  ben  ber  «0cvr  gemacht,  !Damtt  (Sr  gnabig  unS  Bebac^t,  ©rquicfungätag 
ber  'Jvcmmen,  9Sc  tn'3  ©etummet  bicfcc  ffiett  (Sin  ©trafilbcö  cw'gcn  (SabKitfjs^  fällt, 
3u  bem  id)  cinfl  füll  fcmnicn!  Said)  SBitt  mid»  >§iev  fd)ün  te^cn  3(n  ben  ©ctjä^cn 
©einer  ©title    Siö  jur  erc'gen  ©abbat^fitfte.' 

Unb  biefen  g5ttlid)en  ©egen^tag  foKten  rt>ir  uni?  Don  ben  g^einben  be^  6l)ri: 
ftentt)um^  entreif^en  unb  in  einen  glud^tag  Derteljren  laffen?  Stein,  fo  ioal}r  ber 
|jerr  lebt,  fo  lieb  ung  unfer  2eib  unb  unfere  unfterblicbe  6eete  ift,  gegen  biefeiS 
3erftörungC'merf  »ollen  tt>ir  un^  h)ie  @in  33knn  mit  aller  -Siraft  bcy  ^eugniffey 
unb  ber  2bat  erbeben!  ^m  5Ramen  eurer  leiblidjen  unb  geiftigen  ©efunbbeit, 
im  9bmen  eurer  äeitlid}en  unb  einigen  SBoblfabrt,  im  3Ramen  eurer  gamilien, 
eurer  SBeiber  unb  Äinber,  im  5Hamen  ber  offentlicben  ©ittlicbfeit  unb  nationalen 
SBeblfabrt,  im  9iamen  beä  Staates  unb  ber  itircbe,  in;  Xiamen  ber  beut)d)en 
©otte^^furdjt  unb  grommigfeit,  im  Stamen  ber  beutfd)en  (S'bre  unb  SBiirbe,  im 
Stamen  alley  beffen,  may  end}  aU  9Jtenfd}en,  aly  93ürger  unb  a\§  Eb^iften  bcilig 
unb  tbeucr  ift,  befd^more  id)  end},  ba^  ^i)x  end)  mit  unfern  ameritanifd}en  Sanbig; 
leuten  unb  2}titd}riften  vereinigt  jur  9iettung  unb  33eiüabrung  ber  uufdja^ibaren 
©titer  biefe^^  beiügei^  SageiS,  unter  beffen  fd}ül\enbem  unb  fegnenbem  Ginfluffc 
biefcy  2anb  unb  biefes  S^olt  frei  unb  ftart,  eine  ©rofjmad^t  ber  SBelt  unb  ein 
SBunber  ber  ©efd}id)te  geioorben  ift. 

5)ann  njirb  ein  reid}er  ©eminn  toon  biefer  21benbt>erfammlung  ausgeben, 
bann  merben  mir  ^eutfcbe  ein  Segen  für  unfere  neue  .^eimatb  merben  unb  un« 
fern'  alten  Ssaterlanbe  C'bre  madjen.  ^a,  S)cutfd)lanb  felbft  mirb  unei  bafür 
banfen,  bie  fpätefte  Siadiiuelt  in  3tmerifa  ben  beutfd)en  Skmen  mit  2(d)tung  unb 
Siebe  nennen,  unb  ber  |)err  beic  Sabbatby  ^ny  mit  feiner  emigen  Sabbatb; 
rube  im  ^immet  belobnen." 

Ter  Q3i.Hfttjier  öertag  Ijteraiif  fofgenbe  fteben  53efd)(üffe,  (bie  and)  im  ^^ro? 
gramm  ftanbcn,  bag  jcbeu  5(nwefcnbe  tu  ^^aiibcn  l)atte,)  unb  crfiid)te  bk 
2]erfamm(uin3,  fofcrn  fie  bcufclbcii  beifttmme,  bicf?  burd)  3(ufftel)cn  timb  ^u 
geben.  (Sofort  crl)ob  ftd)  hk  ganje  Sierfammlung,  unb  bk  33e[d){ü[fe  ftnb 
bal)er  a{§  einftimmig  angenommen  ju  betrad)ten. 

33efd}[ offen,  ba^  bie  ^eiligbaltung  beä  %aqe§  be§  .§errn  für  jeben  cltl: 
äclncit  9)Jcil[t^eil  t»on  ber  gröleften  2Bi($tigteit  ift,  "meil  ibm  baburd),  nad)  fed)g 
SBcrttagen,  ein  2;ag  ber  9iube  unb  mit  bemfelben  3eit  unb  ©elegenbeit  ^u  gei^ 
ftigerunb  fittlidberStuöbilbung  unbgurSSorbereitungfurben^^immelgelrdbrtiinrb. 

Sefd}Ioffen,  ba^  bie  ©onntagilfeier  für  baä  ^-ainUienlelJCll  'ocn  ber  bi-^cb= 
ften  Sebeutung  ift,  inbem  bie  93anbe  ber  ©attenliebe,  fomie  ber  Gltern=,  itinbey= 
unb  ©efd)mifterliebe  öermittelft  bey  längeren,  rubigen  Seifammenfeini?  fid)  fefter 
fd)lingen  unb  burd)  bie  gemeinfame  S^beilnabme  am  ©ottelbienft  gebeiligt  unb 
»erebelt  merben. 

Sefcbloffen,  ba^  bie  Sonntag§feier  für  bie  gan^e  menfd)licbe  ®efcHfd)flf* 
ein  bringenbef>  Sebürfni^  ift,  bamit  ba§  ©eräufcb  unb  ©etriebe  be;?  Sllltagslcoen^ 
ftillftebe,  unb  baburd}  bie  ©efabr  beg  SSerfinfeng  in  2RateriaIigmug  abgetnenbet 
unb  ba§  93emu^tfein  toon  ber  gemeinfamen  Seftimmung  aller  ÜRenfcben  unb  ben 


24 

baraitg  entfpringenben  ^flid)ten  gegen  bie  ÜJlenfdifjeit  überf>au^)t  unb  ba§  SSater« 
lanb  ins'befonbere,  geiredt  tperbe. 

93ef d^Iof)  en,  baMie  Sonntagsfeier  für  bie  djriftlirfjc  .Q^iri^C  unentbe^r» 
lid^  ift,  inbem  burd^  bie  rcgelniäfjig  lüiebertebrenbe  ^^rebigt  unb  Unter>r»cifung 
ber  Sitgenb  bie  cbriftlid}e  Grfenntnif?  ftet»  neu  angeregt,  d^riftlid^e  Siebec-tbätig; 
feit  nnb  a(Ie  anbcrn  Sugenben  gendbrt,  unb  »on  ber  JHube,  „bie  nocb  üorbanben 
ift  bcm  Isolte  ©otteä,"  ein  SSorbilb  bargeftellt  inirb. 

93ef cbloff en,  baf?  bie  unter  unfern  £anb!§ieuten  fo  bäufig  ftattfinbenbe 
Sßertebrung  bei?  Sageg  ber  "Stuije  unb  Slnbacbt  in  einen  Jag  ber  3erftreuung  unb 
be5  ftnnlicben  3?ergnügeny  ein  £c(}anbf(ed'  be!§  beutfcben  Dkmeuig  ift,  gegen  ben 
Joir  aiä  S)eutfcbe  feierlicb  proteftiren  unb  an  unfere  ameritanifcbcn  DJlitbürger 
bie  Stnfcrberung  ftellen,  baf5  fie  taii  ungebübrücbe  2;reiben  nielcr  !3^eutfd}en  nidjt 
ungered}ter  SBeife  bem  gail^CU  SSclte  unb  beffen  Stammlanbe  3ur  I'aft  legen. 

53 efd} (offen,  ba^  ipir  bie,  feit  ber  erften  ©riinbung  europätfd)er  Slnfiebe^ 
lungen  bier  ju  Sanbe  eingefübrte  ftrenge  ©onntagsfeier,  meldie  feitbeni  allge^ 
meine  anieritanif(^e  35olt£ifitte  geblieben  ift,  nidit  al»  einen  2Hangel  3(merifa'ä 
besagen,  fonbern  aU  einen  grofjen  S-^orjug  2lmerita'^'  ebren  unb  ipertb  bauen, 
unb  baber  aucb  n^illig  belfen  mollen,  biefen  SSor^ug  gu  beioabren  unb  ju  pflegen. 

53efd}lof  fen  ,  bajj  ton  in  ben  Sonntagegefe^^en  unfereig  neuen  SBaterlan« 
be!§  burd}au!o  nid)t!§  mit  bem  ^^rin^ip  ber  greibeit  Streitenbe^  finben  tonnen, 
»ielmebr  barin  eine  ©eföäbr  bes  g-ortbeftanbe^  unferer  freien  ^^nftitutionen  unb 
ein  tuirtfanteä  DJIittel  erbliden,  urn  bie  ^i'gellofigteit  unb  Sluefdjiueifung,  unb 
bamit  3uglei(^  bie  SBerarmung  unb  6"ntfittlid}ung,  n^elcbe  bie  greibeit  jebesä  SSol= 
fe§  auf'ä  fd)limmfte  gefdbrben,  »on  unl  abjuttJebren. 

2)ec  ^rebiger  9{.  6.  (Soof,  ©efretcir  bee  9?en);§)orfet  (Sab6att)jSoms 
mittee,  braute  in  (Snvä()nung,  bat?  2)r.  Spring  fid)  auf  bet  ^Uatfcrm  bes 
ftnbe,  bcc  felt  bciuat}c  fiinfjig  3itl)i"cn  ^4>'"tfc>tger  an  einer  ber  grlH^ten  @e; 
meinbcn  »on  9ieir;g)t>rf  fei.  !Die  äicrfammlung  irerbe  balder  gern  einigen 
Sßortcn  t)on  iljm  i\)x  Ol)r  (ei()en.  Dec  c^ninirbtge  ©rcig,  gebeugt  von  bet 
Saft  bc^  enters  nnb  ber  bamit  i^erbunbencn  (Bd)ivad)\)cit,  aber  and)  bcbecft 
mit  bem  @d)mucfe  attgemetnet  »^od)ad)tnng,  würbe  l)terauf  jum  ''^[ai\c 
bei  S3orfit5erä  geleitet,  unb  fprad)  feine  (*kfril)le  bet  Danfbarfcit  gegen  O^ott 
a\i§,  ber  it)m  geftattet  l)abe,  einen  fo(d)en  §(nbltrf  ju  genießen,  ©t  fagte,  c§ 
l}anb(e  ftd)  l)iet  ntd)t  urn  ben  (SabbatI)  allein,  fonbetn  nm  baB  ganje  4)cr 
baubc  d)r{ftlid)ct  Sel)rcn  unb  (Sinrid)tungen,  u^eld)e  alle  mit  bem  ©abbatl)  [o 
eng  »etbunben  feien,  i>a^  fte  mit  i()m  ftanben  obct  ficten.  (St  begrübe  bk 
<2anbl(eute  Sutl)et'§  all  9}?itatbeitct  an  bem  gefegnetcn  Untetncl^mcn,  ben 
ZaQ  bei  'S^axn  bet  @nttretl)ung  unb  33etberbni^  jn  entreißen. 

2)te  3Setfammlung  ftimmte  minmel)t  ben  Sobgefang  an:  „9hm  banfet 
SlUc^ott!"  unb  umrb  batauf  mit  bem  apoftolifd)cn  ©egenluninfd)  entlaffen. 

©er  JRcbaftcuv  bcö  "llcui-Dork  ©bflcrticr"  (baö  ifl:  Sflcw-.JDorfcv  ©ccbad^ter),  einer 
»vcit  »eitveiteten,  aK^emcin  cjcadjteteu  d)rifin(^en  aBüd)enf<l)i''ft/  »»>i>r  aiä  aufmciffamer 
3uf)övcr  ben  ganjcn  Sibenb  jitgcgen.  @r  fprad?  ftc^  tarauf  in  feinem  Statte  »cm  20.  DU. 
folc^enbernia^en  bariiber  auö:  „iöir  erinnern  unö  niäjt,  je  einer  beffern  Serfammlnng  in 
unferer  ©tabt  beigc>iiob"t  ju  l;aben.  !Die  5lnwefcnben  waren  fafi  au^fdjlie^liri)  3)entfd;c, 
gut  getleibete,  tttüf)i  auöfe^enbe,  adjtbare  iDiänner  unb  fsrauen;  Seute,  bie  im  (Staube 
u-'b.  "bem  ©taat  a(^  gute  Söürgcr  ju  bienen,  unb  bereu  aBcbnen  unter  un«  ein  ©egeu,  nnb 
nidjt  »in  glucb  fi'u  und  ifi." 

VlHe  religiöfcn  nnb  cni^  bte  beften  jjotitif^en  Journale  »ou  öiettJ^^orf  fpra^en  fld^ 
fel;r  giinfiig  über  bicfe  benfroürbigc  93erfammlung  au«. 


SUI^DAY  THEATEES, 


"SACRED  CONCERTS" 


AND 


BEER-a^RDENS 


1.  Diminution  of  Crime  by  Suppression  of  Sunday  Liquor 

Traffic— Statistics  of  Police  Department, 

2.  Extent  and  Character  of  Sunday  Theatricals. 

3.  Sunday  Lager-Beer  Trade. 

4.  "  Sacred  Concerts"  Unmasked. 

5.  The  Lager-Beer  System  in  other  Cities. 

6.  The  "  National  Custom"  Plea  Examined. 

7.  American  Customs  "Vindicated, 

8.  Effects  of  Holiday  Sunday  Illustrated— Mexico. 

9.  Constitutionality  and  Adequacy  of  Sunday  Laws 
10.  German  Sentiment  on  the  Sunday  Question. 


DOCUMENT   NO.    11, 


THE  NEW  YORK  SABBATH  COMMITTEE. 


NEW  YORK: 

EDWAED    0.   JENKINS,    PRINTER, 

No.   26   FRANKFORT   STREET. 

1860. 


SUNDAY  THEATRES, 

"Sacred  Concerts,"  and  Beer-Gardens. 


All  good  citizens  must  have  noted  with  gratitude  the  recent  improve- 
ment in  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  in  New  York.  The  Sunday  News- 
crying  nuisance  has  ceased,  and  Juvenile  Rowdyism  is  essentially  checked. 
The  Sunday  Liquor  TraiSc,  as  to  its  j)^''^^'^(^  violation  of  law,  has  been 
substantially  suppressed.  The  marked  advance  in  public  morals,  as  the 
direct  result  of  this  reform,  and  the  gratifying  decrease  in  drunkenness  and 
crime,  are  already  indicated  by  the  records  of  the  Police  Department,  and 
are  palpable  in  the  proceedings  of  our  Criminal  Courts. 

Suppression  of  Sunday  Liquor  Trafläc— Results. 

In  a  document  on  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  published  a  year  ago,  the 
Sabbath  Committee  presented  the  statistics  of  the  Police  Commissioners, 
showing  an  average  increase  of  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  arrests  for  intoxication, 
disorder,  and  crime  on  the  Sundays  of  seventy-six  weeks,  over  the  arrests 
on  the  Tuesdays  of  the  same  period, — attributing  the  increase  to  the  unre- 
stricted sale  of  liquors  on  the  Sabbath.     The  precise  facts  were  as  follows : 

ARRESTS    ON    SUNDAYS    AND    TUESDAYS, 
From  July  '57  to  Doc.  '58 — Sevcuty-six  weeks. 

DKTTNK 
DRUNK.      AND   DISORDERLY.       MISCElLANEOtrS.  TOTAL. 

Sundays 2,453         2,580  4,680  9,713 

Tuesdays 1,928         1,865  4,068  7,861 

Excess  on  Sundays 525  715  612  1,852 

A  similar  collation  and  comparison   of  the  statistics  of  the  last   five 


4  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC, 

months  (July  to  December,  '59),  embracing  the  period  since  the  Sunday 
Liquor-shops  were  generally  closed,  furnishes  the  cheering  evidence  of  a 
DIMINUTION  OF  THiRTY-THEEE  per  Cent,  of  criminal  offences  on  Sunday  as 
contrasted  with  Tuesday.  The  summary  furnished  by  the  chief  clerk  of 
the  Police  Board  is  as  follows  : 

ARRESTS   ON    TUESDAYS    AND    SUNDAYS, 
For  five  months — twenty-two  weeks — from  July  3,  to  Dec.  1, 1859. 

ASSAULT  ALL  TOTAL 

INTOXICATION.  DISOEDKBLT.  AND  BATTEEY.    OTIIEKS.  AP.EKST8. 

Tuesdays 2,161  897  616        1,311        4,976 

Sundays 1,515  652  352  828       3,357 


Excess  on  Tuesdays  .  .     646  245  264  483       1,619 

Important  Deductions  from  these  Statistics. 

■  It  appears  from  these  statistics  that  while  the  arrests  of  the  Police  in 
1858,  when  the  Liquor-shops  were  open,  were  an  average  o^  tioentij-five  per 
cent,  more  on  Sundays  than  on  Tuesdays, — in  1859,  when  the  Liquor-shops 
were  ostensibly  closed,  the  arrests  Avere  within  a  fraction  of  fifty  per  cent, 
more  on  Tuesdays  than  on  Sundays ;  showing  a  gratifying  change  of  seventy- 
five  per  cent,  in  favor  of  order  and  morals,  as  the  result  of  the  enforcement  of 
the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  and  the  improved  Sabbath  sentiment.  Had  the  same 
ratio  of  arrests  continued  as  formerly,  during  the  five  months  for  which  we 
have  returns,  the  Sunday  arrests  would  have  been  6,220;  whereas  they 
were  in  fact  3,357:  showing  a  diminution  of  2,863  cases  of  drunkenness 
and  crime,  on  one  day  of  the  week,  in  that  brief  period,  equal  to  an  average 
of  572  per  month,  or  6,864  per  annum. 

Another  result,  scarcely  less  cheering,  is  the  fact  that  the  ratio  of  arrests 
is  steadily  diminishing,  on  loth  Sundays  and  Tuesdays.  Thus,  there  w-ere 
654  arrests  on  four  Sundays  in  July,  '59 ;  on  the  Sundays  of  November 
there  were  but  451.  [The  two  previous  years  show,  in  both  cases,  a 
greater  number  in  November  than  in  July.]  And  the  arrests  for  the 
Tuesdays  of  July  and  August  were  1990,  against  1594  in  October  and 
November  ;  or  a  diminution  of  twenty  per  cent,  of  week-day  crime,  taking 
Tuesday  as  the  average  of  the  week,  as  the  result  of  Sabbath  sobriety. 
With  such  resu^s  of  a  partial  execution  of  a  wholesome  law,  at  the  very 
outset,  what  may  not  be  reasonably  expected,  when  universal  respect  is 
secured  for  its  provisions  ?  * 

•  The  Scottish  Journal,  among  other  facts  illustrating  the  benefits  of  the  "  Forbes 
McKenzie  Act"  against  Sunday  Liquor  soiling,  states  that  the  "decrease  of  four  years 
in  the  consumption  of  ardent  spirits  is  actually  $2.5,050,560,  or  nearly  a  fifth  part  of 
the  whole  previous  consumption.     Tlie  people  of  Scotland  have  scarcely  drank  more 


SUNDAY   TIIEATEES,    ETC.  5 

These  statistics  vindicate,  and  more  than  vindicate,  the  propriety  of  the 
demand  made  by  good  citizens  and  by  the  respectable  press  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  ;  while  they  demonstrate  the  wis- 
dom and  efficiency  of  our  police  authorities  in  this  behalf,  and  prompt  to 
increased  vigilance  and  fidelity  in  the  enforcement  of  beneficent  laws. 

But  they  still  leave  the  question  for  consideration  and  action  as  to  the 
source  of  the  remaining  drunkenness  and  disorder  on  the  Sabbath.  Should 
it  appear  that  the  protean  evil  continues  its  ravages  by  evasion  or  conceal- 
ment, or  that  it  has  tak-^a  refuge  in  a  still  more  seductive,  but  scarcely  less 
ruinous,  traffic — claiming  the  immunity  of  "  national  custom"  and  even  of 
"  sacred"  affinities — then  consistency  of  principle  must  necessitate  measures 
for  its  more  thorough  eradication.  Justice  to  the  Liquor  Dealers  them- 
selves requires  that  the  business  they  or  any  of  them  have  abandoned,  for 
whatever  reason,  shall  not  be  transacted  under  another  guise.  And  it  is 
surely  due  to  the  community  that  the  partial  protection  already  secured 
against  its  deadliest  foe,  with  issues  of  such  positive  benefit,  shall  not  be 
lost  by  the  adroit  tactics  of  the  panderers  to  appetite  and  vice. 

Sunday  Theatres,  "Sacred  Concerts"  and  Beer- Gardens  may  now  be  re- 
garded as  the  most  undisguised  haunts  of  Sunday  dissipation  and  folly. 
Trusting  to  their  deceptive  announcements,  or  to  their  large  profits,  or  to 
the  numbers  visiting  them,  they  have  continued  their  invasion  of  the 
decencies  and  proprieties  of  the  Sabbath  without  intermission  during  the 
progress  of  the  effort  to  suppress  a  kindred  evil.  "We  propose  to  examine 
their  claims  to  exemption  from  the  operation  of  laws  obviously  as  much 
designed  to  protect  the  community  from  the  immoralities  of  these  estabhsh- 
ments,  as  from  those  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 

Sunday  "  Sacred  Concerts,"  as  advertised. 

We  present  literal  translations  of  some  of  the  advertisements  in  a  single 
number  of  the  Sunday  edition  of  the  Daily  Staats- Zeitung,  as  the  most  just 
and  impressive  method  of  bringing  the  evil  in  question  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  reader. 

New  York  Stadt  Theatre,  Nos.  37  and  39  Bowery. 

Directors,  0.  Hoym  and  E.  Hamann ;   Stage  Director,  A.  Meubert ;   Play 

Director,  Mr.  Knorr ;  Music  Director,  Mr.  Herwig. 

SACKED  CONCERT,  Sunday,  December  11,   1859. 

Musical — Declamatory — Dramatical  Evening  Entertainment. 

than  three-fourths  of  the  quantity  of  spirits  consumed  under  the  old  law.  Thus  not 
only  has  the  Sabbath  drinking  been  annulled,  but  the  drinking  of  week  days  has  also  been 
largely  diminished." 


SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC. 

Part  I. —  Overture  to  "Nebuchadnezzar." 

[Play.] — "The  Changing  Multiplication  Table; 

or, 

The  Arithmetician  and  his  Daughters. 

[Names  of  principal  performers  given ;  four  women  and  eight  men.] 

Part  II. —  Waltz,  "Waves  and  Billows,  by  Strauss. 

[Play.] — "Two  Gentlemen  and  One  Dress  Coat; 

or, 

The  Assistant  in  Necessity. 

[Names    of  twelve    performers,    as   before.] 

Part  III. — Mode- Quadrille,  by  Strauss. 

[Play.] — "The  Helper  in  Trouble." 

[Names  of  twelve   performers,   as   before.] 

Part  IV. — Potpourri,  from  the  Opera  of  "  Martha,"  by  Flotow. 

[Farce.] — "Extemporaneous  Society  :" 

Dramatic  performance,  with  Songs  by  MdnL  and  Mr.  Meubert. 

Prices  as  usual. 


Sacred  Concert. 

With  Serious  and  Comical  Duetts,  and  Solos,  and  Band  Music,  in  Carl 

Kmuschka's  Concert  Hall,  Avenue  A. 


Sacred  Concert,  in  Constanzer  Brewery,  565  and  567  Fourth  Street. 

Sunday,  December  11.  Great  and  Extraordinary  afternoon  and  even- 
ing entertainments.     [Performers  named.] 

These  well-known  artists  will  try  their  utmost,  by  Comical  Duetts,  Solos 
and  Concerted  Music,  to  entertain  my  respectable  guests. 


Busom's  Fortuna  Hall,  220  Second  Street. 
Sunday,  December  11.     Great  and  Extraordinary  entertainments  by  the 
family  Fahn,  in  the  afternoon,  3  o'clock.     Dramatic,  Humorous  Singing, 
Comical  Duetts,  Dances,  &c. 

In  the  evening,  at  7  o'clock, 
'Vaudevilles,    Operettas    and  Farces,  with  Songs. 
Grotesque  and  Modern  Ballet  Dancing. 
Entrance  Free. 


Harmony  Garden,  Essex  Street,  Nos.  139  to  145. 
Sunday,  December  11.     Great  Sacred  Concert,  with  Double  Or- 
chestra.    Entrance  Six  Cents — good  for  a  glass  of  Lager  Beer. 


SUNDAY  THEATRES,    ETC. 

Central  Hall  of  the  Social  Reformers,  28  Grand  Street. 
SuNDAT,  December  11.      Theatrical  Performances. 


EuSTACHi's  Volks  Theatre,  Fourth  Street. 
Sunday,  December  11.     Great  Sacred  Concert,  combined  with  Mu- 
sical, Declamatory  Performances,  3  o'clock  P.  M. 

"The  Conversion  from  Temperance  Madness; 

or. 

Before  and  After  the  Election." 

Schwank,  Farce,  in  Two  Acts. 

"  The  Magistrate's  Daughter"  Vaudeville,  in  Three  Acts. 

8  o'clock  P.  M.      "  The  People  Weeping  and  Laughing"  with  Songs,  in 

Five  Acts,  and  Ten  Tableaux.     Bj  F.  0.  Berg  and  D.  Kalisch ;  Music 

bj  Conrad. 

Two  new  decorations  painted  by  Neckmawer : 

1.  The  Park  in  Berlin,  with  the   Long  Bridge,  and   the  Statue  of  the 
Elector. 

2.  Kroll's  Establishment  in  Berlin,  with  Six  Thousand  Gas  Lights. 
Entrance  Ten  Cents.  

TuLp's  TiiALiAN  Hall,  Avenue  A.     Sunday,  December  11. 

Mid-day.     "  The  Son  on  a  Journey."     In  Four  Acts. 

At  7  o'clock  p.  M.     "  The  Bewitched  Prince  ; 

or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Shoemaker." 

1^^  Imported  Wines  on  draught,  and  those  who  loant  to  get  a  brick  in 

the  hat  [tipsy]  may  come.  

Hoaie  of  the  Singers.     Sunday,  December  11. 
Great  Dramatic  afternoon  and  evening  entertainments  by  the  Schiller 
Association. 

"The  Return  from  Russia,"  a  Comedy,  in  Pour  Acts. 
"The  Barber  of  Seville,"  a  Drollery,  in  Five  Acts. 


[The  programme  of  a  new  establishment,   opened  Sunday,  Dec.  25, 
shows  that  the  "sacred"  feature  is  thought  no  longer  necessary.] 
Sunday,  Dec.  25  :  Great  Opening  of  a  New  Theatre, 
In  Germania  Hall,  by  Christophe  Carl,  No.  42  Av.  A. 
U^^  For  the  first  time  in  America  :  How  the  People  Howl  &  Roar — 
Picture  of  American  Customs,  in  3  Acts. 
Characters:    Quisenow,   Alderman;   Munnide,  Mayor  of  New   York; 
Schneppke,  a  Thief  or  Smart  Man  ;  Ferdinand,  a  Lover  ;  Pat.  Maloney, 
a  Jailer. 

Those   acquainted  with  German  Artists  will  identify  the   performers : 
discretion  forbids  our  naming  them. 

jll;^^  Drop  scene  painted  by  Roger  and  Scheierman;  Costumes  made  by 
Obermaher. 

Herewith  I  recommend  my  new  Theatre  to  the  public,  having  spared 


8  SUNDAY  THEATRES,    ETC. 

no  expense  for  this  performance.  At  the  close,  the  Metropolitan  Hotel, 
which  is  the  scene  of  the  phay,  will  be  shown  with  10,000  larups ;  and  in 
the  background  will  be  seen  people,  high  and  low,  from  the  .34  States  ofi 
Germany.     Entrance  Free. 

The  number  of  advertisements  of  the  above  character,  in  a  single  paper, 
is  usually  from  thirty  to  forty.  Many  similar  establishments  do  not  pub- 
lish their  own  infamy.*  It  will  be  seen  that  the  principal  advertised  attrac- 
tions are  Theatricals,  Bands  of  Music,  Songs,  Dances,  Lager  Beer,  &c. 
The  arrangements  for  gambling,  shooting,  raffling,  bowling,  and  other  con- 
veniences, would  not  look  well  in  a  newspaper,  (the  Deputy  Superintendent 
of  Police  states  in  his  Report,  that  of  "the  580  houses  of  prostitution  and 
assignation,  170  are  lager  and  drinking  saloons  comhined  with  prostitution,^^) 
but  are  familiarly  known  to  many  of  the  frequenters,  young  and  old,  of 
these  "Sacred  Concerts."! 

Extent  and  Character  of  Sunday  Theatres. 
Several  of  these  establishments  will  contain  from  one  thousand  to  two 

«  One  such  establishment,  not  publicly  advertised,  contained  full  fifteen  hundred  guests  on  Sunday 
night,  December  11.  The  performances  lasted  till  after  12  o'clock  P.  M.  Among  other  scenes,  two 
men  representing  devils  performed  a  characteristic  dance  after  11  o'clock.  The  whole  scene,  from  7 
to  12  o'clock,  was  described  by  an  eye-witness  as  "  devilish." 

f  A  highly  respectable  German  magazine  characterizes  the  Beer-Garden  system  and  its  influence  : 

"  The  great  majority  of  these  pot-house  keepers  choose  this  occupation  only  because  they  can  make 
an  easy  and  jovial  living  with  the  least  labor,  under  the  appearance  of  an  orderly  and  allowable  pro- 
fession. If  anything  is  a  disgrace  of  our  German  name,  our  numberless  German  beer-houses  are 
such.  The  evil  was  never  greater  than  now,  and  hardly  can  become  greater.  If  all  these  tap-houses 
can  subsist,  it  shows  what  a  tavern-visiting,  pleasure-seeking  nation  the  Germans  have  got  to  be. 
Their  keepers  deport  themselves  as  arrogantly  as  if  they  were  privileged  to  scorn  publicly  all  order, 
morals,  or  reverence  for  that  which  is  holy.  In  their  advertisements  in  our  German  newspapers, 
they  abuse  the  most  sacred  language  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  turn  it  into  mockery. 

"  We  are  not  surprised  when  men  who  have  been  brought  up  iis  tavern-keepors  in  Germany  con- 
tinue in  their  profession  here,  and  many  of  them  do  it  in  a  respectable  manner.  But  the  great  ma- 
jority of  these  low  beer-houses  are  kept  by  persons  who  have  been  trained  altogether  for  other  pro- 
fessions. We  know  men  in  this  country  who  have  formerly  been  German  ministers,  school-teachers, 
military  offlcors,  lawyers,  physicians,  merchants,  etc.,  who  have  chosen  to  keep  pot-houses,  because 
it  requires  but  little  knowledge  or  capital  to  retail  wine  and  beer — to  become  retailers  instead  of  con- 
sumers— and  because  it  is  the  easiest  method  thus  to  offer  enjoyment  to  others,  instead  of  earning 
their  daily  bread  in  a  regular  laborious  calling.  Wo  see  weekly  many  mechanics,  whoso  trade  begins 
to  become  inconvenient — such  as  tailors,  shoemakers,  etc. — establish  pot-houses  ;  calculating  on  the 
custom  of  their  nearest  countrymen  from  the  different  German  States,  and  it  seems  that  they  hardly 
ever  miscalculate. 

"  Among  the  most  respectable  Germans,  who  value  the  German  name,  and  who  are  not  uncon- 
cerned whether  a  wholesome  moral  influence  or  a  vicious  one  bo  exerted,  but  one  voice  prevails  in 
regard  to  this  sad  characteristic  of  their  countrymen  of  our  time.  And  how  could  wo  look  on  with- 
out sorrow  and  shame  ?  The  injury  done  to  morals  is  incalculable,  as  the  doings  of  our  public  courts 
bear  weekly  testimony.  But  we  know  what  kind  of  influence  they  exert  more  silently.  They  every- 
where draw  fathers  away  from  their  families  ;  they  consume  vast  sums  of  money  earned  by  bard 
labor  which  should  be  employed  for  useful  purposes  ;  they  offer  temptation  to  gambling,  and  excite 
many  low  passions  by  their  continuously  frivolous  character  ;  and  they  become  the  source  of  destruc- 
tion to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  well-being  of  hundreds  of  families.  The  whole  business,  worse  than 
public  begging,  rests  as  a  curse  upon  the  Germans  ;  their  good  name  suffers  under  it  ;  and  a  people 
who  set  the  tavern  sign  highest  in  their  national  escutcheon,  forfeit  all  claim  to  respect." 


SUNDAY  THEATllES,    ETC.  9 

tliousand  people ;  some  of  the  largest,  when  crowded,  are  claimed  to  hold 
three  thousand.  They  are  comparatively  little  frequented  on  week-day 
evenings ;  but  most  of  them  are  thronged  to  their  utmost  capacity  on  Sun- 
day, and  especially  on  Sunday  night.  Several  of  them  give  two,  three,  and 
even  four  performances  on  Sunday — at  10  o'clock  A.  M.;  3  o'clock  P.  M.; 
and  at  7  and  10  o'clock  at  night.  Few  of  them  close  their  doors  till  12 
o'clock  P.  M.,  or  later.  A  large  proportion  of  their  guests  are  youth  of 
both  sexes ;  but  there  have  been  seen  in  many  of  them  children  of  tender 
years,  drinking  their  lager  and  sharing  in  their  sports.  Probably,  it  would 
be  no  exaggeration  to  estimate  the  number  of  people  gathered  in  these 
places  on  a  single  Sunday  night  at  fifteen  thousand ;  and  the  whole  num- 
ber of  different  persons  patronizing  them  during  some  part  of  the  Sabbath, 
at  thirty  thousand. 

The  character  of  the  Plays  on  these  boards  may  be  inferred  from  the 
titles.  "The  Devil  and  the  Miller,"  "The  Brigand  in  Florence,"  "The 
Robbers  of  Maria  Culm,"  "The  Dance  of  the  Dead,"  "Conversion  from 
Temperance  Madness,"  and  like  "attractions,"  form  the  staple  of  these 
Sunday  exhibitions.  Men  and  women  full  of  lager  are  not  over-fastidious 
as  to  the  quality  of  a  ten  cent  drama. 

Sunday  Lager  Trade. 

The  amount  of  drinking  would  be  incredible  but  for  sworn  testimony  from 
drinkers  that  they  had  consumed  as  many  as  a  hundred  glasses  in  a  day! 
The  sum  annually  expended  for  beer  on  Sunday  in  this  city  alone,  (and 
nearly  one  half  of  the  entire  expenditure  is  believed  to  be  on  Sunday,)  must 
be  reckoned  by  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars ;  mostly  the  hard  earnings 
of  apprentices,  journeymen,  servants,  and  other  working-men  and  women. 
Well  may  the  proprietors  afford  the  enormous  rents  they  pay,  of  $3,000, 
$5,000,  and  even  $10,000  for  the  halls  they  occupy,  when  they  are  al- 
lowed a  Sunday  monopoly  of  a  business  yielding  300  or  500  per  cent,  profit 
on  their  weekly  investment — with  no  real  value  and  hence  no  taxation ; 
ever  contributing  to  swell  the  taxes  of  legitimate  business  for  the  support 
of  pauperism  and  crime,  but  freed  from  the  burdens  thus  cast  on  honest 
trade. 

Nor  is  it  Lager  Beer  alone  that  flows  at  these  "  Sacred  Concerts."  One 
bar  of  many  may  have  the  blind  for  the  Police  and  the  uninitiated,  "  No 
Liquor  sold  on  Sunday;"  but  other  parts  of  the  premises  are  often  known 
to  furnish  Liquors  freely.  Few  are  bold  enough  to  advertise  "  a  hrick 
in  the  hat ;"  but  many  supply  these  "  pigtails."  Men  who  pervert  language 
by  calling  such  performances  "  Sacred  Concerts,"  do  not  scruple  to  pervert 
law,  and  to  sell  whatever  will  bring  profit  to  their  tills. 

It  is  not  necessary,  for  the  purposes  of  this  document,  to  discuss  the 


10  SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC. 

question  whether  Lager  Beer  is  an  intoxicating  beverage.  A  "  saloon" 
that  should  advertise  a  quality  of  Lager  that  did  not  intoxicate,  would  be 
deserted.  Those  who  sell  it  know — often  by  experience — that  it  does 
produce  drunkenness ;  and  those  who  buy  and  drink  it  do  so  for  the  pur- 
pose of  unnatural  exhilaration — pleasant  for  the  moment,  as  are  all  stimu- 
lants, but  stupefying  and  enervating  when  the  reaction  comes.  It  is 
undoubtedly  less  maddening  in  its  effects  than  alcoholic  drinks ;  but  every 
consumer  knows,  as  well  as  the  physician  and  chemist,  that  taken  in  con- 
siderable quantities  and  habitually.  Lager  depraves  the  appetite  and  de- 
ranges the  tone  of  the  system  as  certainly  as  Liquor.  Our  Police  records 
are  full  of  instances  of  crime  traceable  directly  to  the  intoxicating  influence 
of  this  drink ;  and  there  are  cases  enough  of  delirium  tremens  caused  by 
Lager  Beer  to  settle  the  question  beyond  all  cavil.  While,  as  the  bridge 
over  the  gulf  of  conscience  and  self-respect  to  whiskey-drunkenness,  it  is 
perhaps  more  mischievous  than  in  its  direct  effects.  The  fallacy  that  Lager 
Beer  diminishes  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks  is  disposed  of  by  the  fact  of  the 
rapid  increase  of  dram  shops  since  its  introduction  into  this  country. 

It  is  enough,  however,  for  our  present  object  that  it  is  made  a  regular 
article  of  Sunday  Traffic — when  all  such  traffic  is  forbidden  by  the  laws 
and  customs  of  the  land.  Were  it  nectar^  instead  of  being  as  it  often  is 
a  poisonous  decoction,  [the  Evening  Post  of  June  13,  '58,  cited  the  Mer- 
chant's Magazine  as  its  authority  for  enumerating  "thirty-eight  substances 
which  are  employed  to  give  potency,  flavor,  consistence,  and  other  desira- 
ble qualities  to  this  delectable  form  of  grog ;  among  which  are  marble-dust, 
opium,  tobacco,  henbane,  oil  of  vitriol,  copperas,  alum,  strychnine,  and 
other  deadly  drugs,"]  its  public  sale  would  still  be  illegal  and  immoral  on 
the  Lord's  day. 

Sunday  Trade  Illegal. 

The  policy  of  our  Sunday  Laws  is  and  always  has  been  opposed  to  all 
traffic  and  trade  on  Sunday ;  and  especially  to  those  branches  of  trade 
which  pander  to  the  grosser  appetites  and  passions  of  the  people.  If  tho 
penalties  for  the  violation  of  these  laws  are  small,  they  have  sufficed  to 
secure  general  obedience  hitherto  among  American  citizens ;  if  they  are 
not  sufficient  to  restrain  others,  they  may  and  should  be  increased.  These 
laws  have  not  been  imposed  by  despotic  rulers  or  aristocratic  legislators  ; 
but  they  are  the  voluntary  restraint  which  society  has  placed  on  its  own 
selfishness  and  depravity,  and  equally  on  all  its  members.  While  securing 
for  all  a  season  of  weekly  repose  and  reflection,  society  has  sought  to  hedge 
itself  around  so  as  to  exclude  the  rapacity  of  capital  and  the  temptations  to 
vice,  either  of  which  would  destroy  its  rest-day.  But  tliis  object  can  only 
be  secured  by  universal  respect  for  law.     If  a  few  estabhshments,  or  a 


SUNDAY   THEATKES,    ETC.  11 

privileged  traffic,  may  profit  by  the  general  suspension  of  business, — per- 
verting the  very  restraints  by  which  morality  and  religion  hold  back  the 
masses  from  labor  into  a  source  of  pecuniary  advantage  to  themselves — it 
is  easy  to  see  that  injustice  is  done  to  the  mass  of  good  citizens  who  yield 
obedience  to  law.  Competition  may  drive  others  to  engage  in  Sunday  trad- 
ing, until  the  Sabbath  itself  is  obliterated,  and  all  protection  of  the  rights  of 
the  laboring  classes  to  a  season  of  rest  and  devotion  shall  be  swept  away. 
On  what  ground  then  shall  the  traffic  in  Beer,  with  noisy  and  immoral 
accompaniments,  claim  a  practical  and  recognized  exemption  from  the 
operation  of  these  laws,  and  a  virtual  monopoly  of  Sunday  trade  ?  Must 
our  ships  lie  still  in  their  berths,  and  our  factories  cease  their  productions, 
and  our  tens  of  thousands  of  shops  for-the  sale  of  books,  clothing,  provisions, 
and  all  other  necessaries  of  civilized  life,  suspend  their  business  twenty-four 
hours  of  each  week;  and  the  shops,  cellars,  and  "saloons,"  established  for 
traffic  in  Lager  Beer,  Segars,  and  Confectionery,  monopolize  the  trade  of 
fifty -two  days  in  the  year?  Was  it  "for  man,"  as  an  animal  and  a  beer- 
drinker,  that  "the  Sabbath  was  made?"  Was  it  in  the  interest  of  Brewers 
and  Lager-Beer  dealers  that  the  Laws  of  the  Republic  caused  the  wheels 
of  Commerce  to  cease  rolling,  and  all  branches  of  human  industry  to  sus- 
pend their  activities,  one-seventh  part  of  each  week  ? 

"  Sacred  Concerts"  Unmasked. 

But  it  may  be  claimed  that  the  "Sacred  Concerts,"  and  other  diversions 
of  the  Beer-Garden  and  Saloon,  sanctify  the  traffic,  meet  a  popular  want  of 
recreation,  and  present  a  claim  for  exemption  from  the  operation  of  whole- 
some laws.  Why,  the  very  necessity  of  concealment  for  these  disgraceful 
exhibitions  under  a  "sacred"  name — "stealing  he  livery  of  heaven  to 
serve  the  devil  in" — is  a  concession  that  their  true  character  is  an  insult  to 
the  public,  and  an  outrage  upon  the  proprieties  of  the  day.  But  what 
must  be  the  standard  of  morality  that  can  rank  as  "sacred"  the  vaudevilles, 
and  comic  operas,  and  libidinous  songs  and  dances,  publicly  announced, 
and  publicly  performed,  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  ?  And  what  must  be 
the  social  and  moral  condition  of  the  thousands,  or  tens  of  thousands, 
who  crowd  these  performances — substituting  the  excitements  of  drink 
and  play,  amidst  promiscuous  throngs,  in  a  fetid  atmosphere,  for  the  quiet 
joys  of  home,  or  the  ennobling  worship  of  the  house  of  God  1  What  a 
process  is  this  of  self-discipline,  without  which  self-government  is  an  im- 
possibility, and  the  institutions  presupposing  it  a  mockery  I  What  a  use 
is  this,  of  the  season  beneficently  set  apart  by  the  Creator  for  self-culture, 
for  His  own  worship,  and  for  preparation  for  heaven  !  Viewed  from  any 
other  stand-point  than  that  of  the  self-interest  of  the  proprietor,  and  the 


12  SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC. 

self-indulgence  of  the  victim,  this  whole  system  of  "  Sacred  Concerts"  is  a 
stupendous  scheme  for  money-making  and  pleasure-seeking,  at  the  expense 
of  popular  morality,  in  defiance  of  American  pubhc  sentiment,  and  in  con- 
tempt of  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 

"Sacred"  Literature, 

We  feel  constrained  here  to  utter  a  protest  against  the  corruption  of  lan- 
guage and  perversion  of  truth  which  has  grown  up  with  Sabbath-breaking 
and  an  anti-Sabbath  literature.  The  actual  scenes  occurring  in  these  fre- 
quented temples  of  folly  are  a  sufficient  outrage  on  the  rights  and  feelings 
of  the  decent  community,  without  attempting  to  gild  iniquity  or  to  blind 
the  public  to  their  real  nature  by  a  misnomer  as  false  as  to  inscribe  over  a 
house  of  infamy,  "  The  School  of  Virtue,"  or  to  invite  custom  for  a  dram- 
shop as  "  The  Nursery  of  Temperance."  The  fashion  of  employing  language 
to  express  the  exact  opposite  of  its  Just  signification,  has  extended  to  jour- 
nals whose  interests  conflict  with  the  moral  law.  Their  vulgar  libels  against 
the  friends  of  a  quiet  Sabbath  are  indited  in  the  name  of  "  civil  and  relig- 
ious liberty  I" — ^when  their  authors  deserve  to  be  indicted  for  outraging  com- 
mon morality.  A  lawless  traffic,  demonstrably  responsible  for  nine-tenths 
of  the  pauperism  and  crime  with  which  our  city  is  cursed,  is  defended  in 
the  name  of  "  rehgious  freedom !"  A  calm,  principled,  forbearing  opposition 
to  illegal  and  demoralizing  courses  is  styled  "Phariseeism,"  "Puritan- 
ism," "Fanaticism;"  the  respectable  citizens  sharing  in  the  movement  are 
"Mawworms"  and  "Aminidab  Sleeks,"  and  "the  practice  of  Sabbatarians*' 
is  said  to  be  "  to  give  six  days  to  the  devil,  to  lying,  and  slandering,  and 
cheating,  and  to  nine-tenths  of  the  vices  and  crimes  prohibited  by  the  Deca- 
logue :"  while  Sunday  Liquor  and  Lager  Dealers  are  the  ^^ good  men  to 
unite  against  despotism  and  fanaticism,"  when  '■^had  men,  the  Sunday-Sab- 
batarians, combine  [ !  "  Why,  we  have  reached  a  point  in  the  perversion 
of  terms  to  indicate  vice  and  virtue  far  in  advance  of  the  Spaniards,  who 
only  call  high-way  robbery  ^^novedad," — a  novelty ;  here  it  would  be  termed 
an  "obligation  conferred  on  the  weary  traveller!"  A  little  more,  and  a 
parricide  would  be  feted  as  a  "young  gentleman  who  had  suddenly  in- 
herited an  estate."  Shame  on  the  false  system  that  begins  by  appropriat- 
ing the  Lord's  Day  to  nameless  and  shameless  abominations,  and  then  screens 
the  wrong  by  perverting  language,  and  by  indiscriminate  libels  on  the  mil- 
lions of  men  who  cherish  a  reverence  for  the  Bible,  and  the  Sabbath,  and 
the  Great  Author  of  both  ! 

The  New  York  System  in  "Western  Cities. 
But  this  system  of  Sunday  Theatres,  "  Sacred  Concerts,"  and  Beer-Gar- 
dens, so  prevalent  and  profitable  here,  has  been  extended  from  the  metrop- 


SUNDAY  THEATRES,    ETC.  13 

olis  to  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  West,  to  the  dread  and  disgust  of  good 
citizens.  So  demoralizing  have  been  its  fruits,  that  in  St.  Louis  the  people 
have  taken  measures  for  self-protection,  and,  by  a  majority  of  more  than 
two  thousand  in  a  popular  election,  have  stamped  this,  and  the  kindred  traf- 
fic in  Sunday  rum,  with  their  reprobation.  A  stringent  law  for  the  ex- 
tinction of  these  evils  has  been  presented  to  the  Missouri  Legislature,  sup- 
ported by  the  entire  delegation  from  St.  Louis,  with  a  single  exception ; 
and  the  motion  for  its  rejection  was  negatived  by  a  vote  of  ninety-four  to 
seven.*  The  representative  who  reported  the  bill,  [Mr.  Drake,  of  St.  Louis,] 
made  an  impressive  exposition  of  its  provisions,  and  the  necessity  for  them 
as  a  "  remedy  imperatively  demanded  for  a  great  and  alarming  evil."  Mr. 
Pilkinton,  also  a  member  from  St.  Louis,  said  "  he  had  visited  twenty-seven 
Sunday  Theatres ;  in  one,  where  he  had  paid  ten  cents  for  admission,  he 
had  heard  the  most  obscene  songs  he  had  ever  listened  to  or  heard  of  in 
his  life.  From  close  observation  during  his  Sunday  visits  to  the  leading 
saloons,  he  could  fully  bear  out  all  that  had  been  said  by  the  gentleman 
from  that  city,  not  only  as  regards  the  "cup-bearers,"  but  other  infamies 
which  had  come  under  his  observation."  [The  allusions  are  to  Mr.  Drake's 
statement  that  in  some  of  these  places  there  is  "  the  attendance  of  courte- 
sans serving  out  lager  beer  to  customers,  and,  at  the  same  time,  making 
their  assignations  with  such  as  may  be  inclined  thereto."] 

The  state  of  things  is  substantially  the  same  in  Detroit,  Toledo,  Chicago, 
Cincinnati,  and  elsewhere,  as  in  St.  Louis,  only  that  the  measures  for  re- 
sisting the  tide  of  evil  are  less  energetic,  as  yet.  May  it  not  be  hoped  that 
as  evil  example  in  New  York  has  tended  to  corrupt  other  cities,  so  the 
suppression  of  evil  here  may  stimulate  the  friends  of  good  morals  to  sue 
cessful  effort  in  other  great  communities. 

Are  Sunday  Lager-Theatricals  a  National  Custom? 

The  most  plausible  plea  in  behalf  of  the  vicious  system  under  consideration 
is,  that  it  is  a  "national  custom,"  and  is  therefore  entitled  to  a  liberal  con- 
struction of  our  laws,  and  a  large  toleration  of  our  authorities  and  people. 
The  obvious  answer  is,  that  national  vices  have  no  claim  to  be  regarded  as 
"national  customs,"  and  if  they  had,  that  it  would  not  warrant  their  impor- 
tation from  despotic  kingdoms  and  their  domestication  in  a  christian  republic. 

"Whatever  latitude  may  be  allowed  under  the  despotisms  of  the  conti- 
nent to  popular  amusements  on  the  Sabbath — according  to  Hallam,  avow- 
edly "  to  keep  the  people  from  speculating  on  religious  and  political  matters, 
and  because  it  renders  them  more  cheerful  and  less  sensible  to  the  evils  of 
their  condition" — they  are  restrained  by  a  vigilant  and  powerful  police, 

*  The  Bill  has  passed  the  Legislature  by  a  decided  majority,  since  this  document  was  in  type. 


14  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC. 

backed  by  vast  standing  armies,  from  such  indecencies  and  excesses  as  dis- 
grace the  boards  o^  our  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer-Gardens.  The  "hells" 
of  Homburg  and  Baden-Baden,  are  gentlemanly  and  civilized  resorts  com- 
pared with  the  orgies  of  Jones'  "Woods  and  the  Volks'  Theatre.  In  many 
parts  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  and  especially  in  the  agricultural  districts, 
the  whole  system  is  unknown.  It  is  in  the  corrupt  capitals  and  larger 
cities  alone  that  it  is  tolerated ;  and  even  there,  it  is  only  tolerated — the 
protest  of  the  more  moral  and  considerate  classes,  whether  Protestant  or 
Cathohc,  having  been  repeatedly  and  earnestly  uttered.  It  is  not,  then, 
in  any  proper  sense,  "  a  national  custom"  that  appeals  to  American  citizens 
for  their  forbearance,  but  rather  a  foreign  vice,  or  a  complication  of  vices, 
seeking  to  be  naturalized  on  our  soil. 

Are  "National  Customs"  entitled  to  Naturalization? 

But  if  it  were  a  national  custom,  it  would  not  follow  that  it  might  claim 
a  home  among  us.  Bull-baiting  and  cock-fighting  are  national  customs  of 
Spain  —  recognized  by  her  laws  and  patronized  by  her  court,  nobility, 
and  people.  Shall  they,  hence,  be  foisted  on  this  land  ?  The  sports  of  the 
ring  are  common  in  England  :  our  laws  reprobate  and  punish  them.  The 
Carnival  is  an  Italian  custom :  would  it  be  tolerated  here?  Polygamy  is  a 
Turkish  custom  :  the  laws  of  every  American  State  make  it  a  crime.  There 
are  specialties  of  this  nature  more  or  less  intimately  connected  with  tlie 
national  life  of  the  several  races  and  kingdoms  of  the  earth.  Will  any 
one  claim  that  the  right  of  immigration  involves  that  of  importation  of  the 
very  vices  which  have  been  the  cause  of  popular  degeneracy  and  despotic 
rule  abroad — nay,  which  have  compelled  impoverished  and  oppressed  mil- 
lions to  seek  a  land  where  a  sterner  morality  has  rendered  a  free  govern- 
ment possible  ?  Or,  does  not  the  voluntary  election  of  our  institutions,  civil 
and  religious,  imply  acquiescence  in  whatever  restraints  we  have  found 
necessary  as  the  conditions  of  a  government  of  law,  and  the  abandonment 
of  such  "  customs"  as  are  offensive  to  a  civilized  and  christian  people  ?  Is 
not  the  full  talc  of  liberty  meted  out  to  ourselves — the  utmost  that  is  con- 
sistent with  the  safe  working  of  free  institutions — enough  for  those  who 
never  enjoyed  any  considerable  measure  of  civil  or  religious  liberty  till 
they  landed  here  ?  Emigrants  from  all  lands  are  welcomed,  with  but  the 
slightest  probation,  to  the  enjoyment  of  equal  rights  and  privileges  in  the 
magnificent  patrimony  secured  to  us  by  the  virtue  and  heroism  of  our 
fathers.  They  can  acquire  property,  go  to  the  ballot-bo:^:  at  every  election, 
attain  any  office  for  which  they  aspire  and  are  deemed  worthy,  and  exert 
all  their  influence  in  the  control  of  public  affairs.  They  may  worship  as 
they  please,  where  they  please,  or  not  at  all,  if  so  inclined.  There  is  not 
a  burden  of  a  hair  laid  on  foreign  shoulders  beyond  that  on  the  shoulders 


SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  15 

of  every  American.  "What  more  can  be  asked?  More  has  been  asked — 
and  taken.  The  whole  system  of  Sunday  follies,  of  which  we  complain,  is 
of  a  sort  that  Americans  never  allowed  to  themselves :  they  cannot  grant  it 
to  others  without  sacrificing  vital  principles,  and  paving  the  way  for  a  wise 
government  of  law  to  succumb  to  a  cosmopolitan  mob. 

How  are  our  "national  customs"  dealt  with  in  the  old  world?  The 
Ballot,  Freedom  of  the  Press,  travelling  without  Passports,  &c.,  are  com- 
mon here.  "Why  should  not  the  American  abroad  insist  on  voting  when 
he  pleases,  publishing  what  he  pleases,  and  going  where  he  pleases  ?  Com- 
mon sense  answers :  simply  because  he  has  voluntarily  placed  himself  under 
governments,  institutions,  and  customs  different  from  those  of  his  native 
land ;  and,  unless  he  is  prepared  for  revolution  or  outlawry,  he  acquiesces 
in  the  laws  and  usages  he  finds  in  vogue,  until  he  can  persuade  the  people 
or  governments  where  he  dwells,  that  his  notions  are  best ;  or  until  he  can 
decently  take  himself  out  of  the  way. 

Sabbath  Customs  in  the  United  States. 

The  relation  of  this  discussion  to  the  topic  in  hand  cannot  be  mistaken. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  one  custom  more  fixed  and  distinctive  among  us  as  a 
nation  than  the  almost  universal  regard  for  the  Christian  Sabbath.*  Pain- 
ful as  are  the  exceptions,  the  rule  throughout  the  United  States  is,  to  devote 
one  day  in  seven  to  purposes  of  rest  and  devotion.  The  most  industrious 
people  in  the  world — ^perhaps  the  most  avaricious — by  common  consent, 
suspend  their  worldly  toil,  and  millions  of  them  resort  to  the  temples  of 
rehgion,  and  their  children  to  the  Sunday-school.  At  least  nine-tenths  of 
the  American-born  population,  and  probably  a  large  majority  of  the  foreign- 
born,  esteem  the  Sabbath  too  sacred  to  be  spent  as  a  frivolous  holiday.  It 
has  been  so  from  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and  the  existence  of  our 
confederacy.  The  laws  of  every  State  in  the  Union — ^with  a  single  excep- 
tion— recognize  this  national  sentiment,  and  embody  it  in  Acts  prohibitory 
of  needless  labor  and  of  vicious  public  amusements.  "With  trifling  excep- 
tions, the  Christian  churches,  of  every  name,  regard  the  Sabbath  as  a  day 
to  be  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  be  employed  in  acts  of  religious 
worship  and  charity :  so  that  millions  of  our  citizens  are  grieved,  and 
justly  grieved,  as  they  think,  by  a  systematic  perversion  of  the  day  into  a 
mere  carnival  of  sensuous  pleasure. 

Now,  the  question  is  not  whether  these  convictions  are  well  or  ill 
founded — that  can  be  discussed  at  another  time  :  nor  whether  the  Sabbath 

*  Tlie  venerable  French  scholar,  Duponceau,  said,  "  That  of  all  we  claimed  as  char- 
acteristic, our  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  only  one  truly  national  and  American  . 
and  for  this  cause,  if  for  no  other,  lie  trusted  it  would  never  lose  its  hold  on  our  affec- 
tions and  our  patriotism." 


16  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC. 

is  or  is  not  a  divine  institution ;  nor  whether  American  views  of  the  Sab« 
bath  are  more  or  less  just  than  Continental  notions : — but,  whether  the  Sab- 
hath,  thus  entrenched  in  the  affections,  usages,  and  laws  of  the  American 
people,  shall  not  he  respected  hy  our  foreign  emigrant  pojndation,  and  their 
Sunday  customs,  of  whatever  sort,  conflicting  with  its  quiet  and  trampling 
upon  its  sacredness,  be  forborne  ; — at  least  until  public  sentiment  shall  be 
so  revolutionized  as  to  accept  the  holiday  of  Despotism  in  place  of  our 
holy-day  of  Freedom,  and  until  the  laws  expressing  the  imroremorial  and 
existing  views  of  this  country  shall  be  modified  to  suit  European  laxity,  or 
repealed  altogether — ^for  the  benefit  of  Lager  Dealers  and  Sunday  Theatres. 

Sunday  Theatricals  an  Invasion. 

It  surely  needs  no  argument  to  prove  that  the  system  of  Sunday  Thea- 
tres and  Beer-Gardens  is  as  utterly  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  our  Ameri- 
can Sabbath  as  it  is  with  any  code  of  morals  higher  than  that  of  Atheism. 
Even  the  lowest  view,  that  simply  accepts  the  weekly  leisure  and  rest  from 
toil,  must  repudiate  the  congregation  of  thousands  in  over-crowded  and  iU- 
ventilated  halls,  with  all  the  excitement  of  drink,  and  dance,  and  play,  and 
the  varied  temptations  to  vice  held  out  to  young  and  old  in  these  haunts 
of  noisy  mirth.  It  is  not  rest:  it  is  dissipation  and  rioting  that  comes  from 
such  scenes.  But  the  broader  view  of  the  social,  intellectual,  and  spiritual 
nature,  and  of  the  culture  necessary  to  the  right  discharge  of  domestic, 
civil,  and  religious  duties,  and  taking  into  the  account  the  destinies  of  an 
immortal  being — all  of  which  to  the  laboring  man  stand  associated  with 
the  proper  use  of  Sabbath  hours — makes  this  system  of  Sunday  revelry 
and  folly  a  crime  against  himself,  his  family,  his  neighbor,  and  his  Maker. 
No  man  has  a  right  to  embrute  himself,  and  expose  society  to  the  depreda- 
tion of  ungoverned  passions,  stimulated  by  a  resort  to  the  Theatre  and  the 
Beer-Garden,  on  the  day  made  to  hush  human  passion  and  sin,  and  to  school 
the  soul  for  citizenship  here  and  on  High.  And  no  set  of  men  may  inno- 
cently indulge  their  own  selfishness  at  the  expense  of  the  money  and  morals 
of  their  neighbors,  by  placing  snares  and  pit-falls  along  their  pathway,  and 
exulting  over  their  destruction  with  songs  and  dances,  and  "  sacred  con- 
certs." 

Our  Native  Stock  of  Virtue  not  Inexhaustible. 

"We  have  spoken  thus  far  chiefly  of  the  influence  of  a  Lager-beer  Sunday 
on  our  foreign  population :  what  is  it,  and  what  is  it  likely  to  be,  if  natural- 
ized, on  our  children,  clerks,  servants,  and  the  classes  exposed  to  its  seduc- 
tions ?  It  may  be  that  the  boast  of  a  speaker  at  the  Turner's  Festival  at 
Cincinnati  is  well-founded:  "We  Germans  may  drink  as  much  as  we 
please ;  the  capital  stock  of  our  intelligence  and  character  is  so  great,  that 


SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  17 

even,  witli  our  good-will,  we  cannot  exhaust  it !"  "We  Americans  are  not 
thus  gifted.  Our  "  capital  stock  of  intelligence  and  character  "  has  accu- 
mulated by  generations  of  pains-taking — with  all  the  appliances  of  schools, 
and  churches,  and  domestic  training,  and  self-discipline,  and  the  varied  ele- 
ments of  a  Christian  civilization ;  and  our  institutions  are  the  outgrowth 
and  expression  of  the  organic  life  of  a  people  thus  tutored.  Considerable 
as  we  believe  this  "  capital "  to  be,  it  is  flxr  from  being  "  inexhaustible." 
If  it  shall  have  a  weekly  outward  current,  as  Sunday  beer  flows  in,  half  a 
generation  will  see  the  last  of  it.  If  our  inspiration  is  to  bo  drawn  from 
the  beer-barrel  instead  of  the  Bible,  and  our  Sabbath  is  to  be  "  sacred  "  to 
Gambrinus  and  not  to  God,  then  even  the  superadded  "capital  of  intelli- 
gence and  character  "  of  Lager — ^beer-dom  will  not  enable  Americans  to  save 
the  institutions  bequeathed  to  them.  It  cannot  be  denied,  and  need  not 
be  concealed,  that  there  is  much  in  human  nature  to  respond  to  the  seduc- 
tions of  the  Sunday  theatre  and  "sacred  concert."  There  is  a  vast  juve- 
nile population,  uninstructcd  still  in  morals  and  religion,  ready  for  any  cheap 
Sunday  sport.  And  there  may  be  thousands  of  the  sons  of  respectable  and 
even  pious  parents  to  whom  the  restraints  of  the  Sabbath  are  irksome,  and 
whose  consciences  are  quieted  by  the  blind  of  "  sacred  "  performances. 
These  and  other  classes  may  be  willing  to  accept  a  foreign  custom,  ignor- 
ing its  antecedents  and  its  consequences ;  as  the  foreign  panderer  accepts 
our  liberty,  ignoring  its  conditions.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  a  vast  pro- 
cess of  demoralization  is  thus  going  on  among  our  native  population  through 
these  imported  vices.  Self-respect  and  self-protection  demand  that  this  pro- 
cess should  be  stayed,  while  some  part  of  our  "  capital  of  intelligence  and 
character  "  abides. 

Influence  of  the  Holiday  Sunday  System  on  Mexico. 

"While  there  is  a  conceded  necessity  for  occasional  recreation  and 
popular  diversion, — of  which  the  evenings  of  the  week  furnish  a  some- 
what liberal  supply,  to  say  nothing  of  our  recognized  holidays, — the  effects 
of  an  undue  devotion  to  vulgar  amusements,  and  of  the  habitual  violation 
of  the  Sabbath  for  this  purpose  on  the  character  and  destiny  of  a  nation, 
are  impressively  illustrated  in  the  unfortunate  career  of  our  neighboring 
Republic.  The  intelligent  regular  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Times, 
when  portraying  the  causes  of  the  decline  of  Mexico,  wrote  last  summer  as 
follows : 

[After  describing  the  dissolute  character  of  Sundays  and  the  scores  erf 
fast  and  feast  days  of  Ecclesiastical  or  Governmental  'appointment — on 
which  "  all  manner  of  amusements  are  attended  by  all  classes  of  people  of 
both  sexes,"  the  writer  proceeds :] 

"The  tax  laid  upon  the  time  and  energies  of  the  nation  by  these  feasts 


18  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC. 

amounts  to  about  one-third  of  the  JDest  force  of  the  country,  which  under  better 
rules  would  be  devoted  to  the  accumulation  of  private  wealth  and  increasing 
the  public  revenues.  Besides  the  apparent  loss  occasioned  by  the  great  number 
of  Mexican  feast  days,  there  is  a  loss  to  the  nation  of  still  graver  importance, 
which  is  to  be  found  in  the  demoralization  of  the  people.  It  is  a  notorious  fact 
that  on  Sundays  and  the  other  feast  days  the  consumption  of  spirituous  liquors  is 
from  forty  to  fifty  times  greater  than  on  laboring  days.  The  consequence  of  this 
extra  consumption  of  spirituous  liquors  is  to  he  found  in  the  squalid  misery  and 
prostitution  of  the  lower  classes.  Some  reason  that  those  things  would  be  under 
all  circumstances.  To  let  such  people  keep  their  false  promises,  we  have  still 
more  forcible  examples  of  the  evil  effects  of  feast  days,  in  the  extra  number  of 
assassinations  and  imprisonments  for  drunkenness  and  murder  on  those  days. 
Sundays  and  other  feast  days  produce  on  an  average  from  five  to  seven  murders 
each  I  How  many  imprisonments  it  is  difficult  to  say.  But  I  am  very  safe  in 
asserting  that  each  feast  day  in  the  Mexican  calendar  will  show  a  greater  num- 
ber of  killed  and  prisoners — in  the  city  of  Mexico  alone — than  the  average  run 
of  pronunciamentos  and  battles  of  the  country  1 

*  *  *  "  Taken  all  together,  the  feasts  of  Mexico  are  a  great  and  destroying 
curse  to  the  country.  They  feed  the  vilest  passions  of  a  weak  people,  and  do 
no  good  to  society  or  individuals.  The  religious  feasts  give  occasion  for  more 
debauchery  than  they  do  for  religious  worship ;  and  all  the  other  feasts  are  bad, 
without  having  a  single  redeeming  quality.  Until  they  are  stopped^  one  and  all, 
excepting  the  Sahhath,  Mexico  will  be  just  luhat  she  is — a  weak,  demoralized,  and 
decaying  nation.'^ 

Is  not  Mexico  nominally  a  Republic  ?  Why  the  failure  of  her  institu- 
tions, and  the  stability  of  ours  ?  Our  citizens  have  been  trained  to  habits 
of  industry,  morality,  and  religion,  under  the  influence  of  the  Bible  and 
the  Sabbath:  hers  have  given  themselves  up  to  self-indulgence — "the 
vilest  passions  of  a  weak  people"  have  been  "  fed  "  by  holiday  pastimes 
and  vicious  pleasures  "without  a  redeeming  quality" — and  she  is  hence 
"  a  weak,  demoralized,  and  decaying  nation."  So  shall  we  be,  if  we  let 
go  our  anchorage  of  the  Word  and  Day  of  God,  and  accept  in  their  stead 
the  childish  vanities  and  the  profane  mockeries  of  a  godless  holiday 
regime. 

Are  Sunday  Laws  Constitutional? 

But  is  there  power  to  restrain  the  class  of  offences  against  good  morals 
and  the  public  peace  under  consideration  ?  If  there  be  not,  then  society 
is  defenceless  against  a  foe  as  insidious  as  terrible.  If  certain  American 
and  German  Journals  are  to  be  credited,  the  extremes  of  folly  and  wicked- 
ness may  claim  immunity  under  "  constitutional  "  guarantees  !  "  The  Con- 
stitution of  the  State  of  New  York,"  says  one  of  these  Daily  apologists 
for  Sunday  rowdyism,  "  prohibits  any  preference  to  be  given  by  law  to 
the    opinions  of  o?ie   religious  sect  over    another.     All   Sahhath   laics  are 


SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC.  19 

therefore  in  opposition  to  the  State  constitution.  *  *  The  time  has  gone  hy 
when  people  can  he  compelled  to  follow  the  religious  observance  of  any  sect  hy 
egislative  enactments,  and  when  men  can  he  made  pious  hy  the  law  of  ike 
land." 

What!  cover  a  system  of  unmixed  iniquity  by  claiming  for  it  a 
"  sacred  "  character,  and  then  demand  protection  for  it  on  the  score  that 
"  the  constitution  prohibits  any  preference  to  be  given  by  law  to  the  opin- 
ions of  one  religious  sect  over  another  /"  There  is  a  heaven-wide  difference 
between  "  religious  liberty  "  and  irreligious  license  :  between  "  freedom  of 
conscience  "  and  freedom  of  passion.  The  one  is  secured  by  the  constitu- 
tion; the  other  it  is  the  design  of  constitutions  and  laws,  human  and 
divine,  to  hem  in  and  hedge  about.  Why,  the  very  article  of  the  consti- 
tution thus  shamelessly  wrested  from  its  object,  rebukes  the  insult  to  com- 
mon sense  and  to  religious  freedom,  when  it  farther  provides  that  "the 
liberty  of  conscience  hereby  secured  shall  not  he  so  construed  as  to  excuse 
acts  of  licentiousness,  or  justify  practices  inconsistent  with  the  peace  or  safety 
of  the  State." 

"All  Sabbath  Laws  are  therefore  in  opposition  to  the  State  constitu- 
tion?" Wherefore?  What  part  of  the  constitution ?  What  "sect"  is 
established  or  preferred  by  laws  prohibiting  Sunday  rumselling  and  subter- 
ranean theatricals  ?  Irreligious  and  immoral  practices  are  not  "religious 
opinions."  The  only  constitutional  shelter  for  the  newly-discovered  "sect" 
must  be  the  clause  above  quoted — which  its  organs  have  never  yet  seen  fit 
to  publish. 

"  The  time  has  gone  by  when  people  can  be  compelled  to  follow  the  re- 
ligioxis  observance  of  any  sect,  and  when  men  can  be  made  pious  by  the 
law  of  the  land:"  for  its  only  existence  in  this  country  is  in  the  imagina- 
tion that  cannot  discriminate  between  a  place  of  Christian  worship  and  a 
Sunday  Dram-shop,  nor  between  a  free  conscience,  and  free  rum.  If  men 
cannot  be  "  made  pious  by  law,"  it  does  not  follow  that  they  may  be  made 
impious  against  law. 

But  a  German  daily  paper  in  this  city  goes  still  farther,  and  declares : 
"  In  religious  matters  there  shall  be  anarchy  throughout  the  Union ;  thus 
the  constitution  decrees.  [Where  ?]  We  would  protest  against  all  Sunday 
Laws  which  the  people  might  impose  upon  themselves  hy  their  own  majority. 
We  do  not  submit,  in  the  Sunday  question,  to  the  decision  of  the  population,^' 
etc.  It  will  be  seen  subsequently,  that  German  sentiment  is  misrepresent- 
ed by  this  Journal :  but  it  may  be  supposed  to  indicate  the  tone  of  feeling 
of  the  Lager-beer  interest.  Coupled  with  the  counsel  of  the  editor  of  an- 
other journal  in  this  city,  at  the  Yolks  Garden  meeting,  to  resist  the  authori- 
ties who  should  attempt  to  interfere  with  Sunday  theatricals,  etc.,  "  hy  force," 
it  presents  the  question  whether  American  Law  or  German  appetite  shall  bo 


20  SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC. 

the  rule  in  matters  vitally  affecting  the  moral  welfare  and  civil  rights  of 
this  country.  Practical  "  anarchy"  is  one  thing ;  anarchical  and  revolution- 
ary principles,  boldly  avowed,  are  a  novelty  among  us ;  it  remains  to  be 
seen  whether  a  people  accustomed  to  respect  law  and  the  will  of  majorities 
will  succumb  to  them.  When  our  German  fellow-citizens  come  to  under- 
stand that  all  the  liberty  an  American  citizen  has,  or  needs,  whether  native 
or  foreign-born,  is  the  power  to  do  whatever  may  be  beneficial  to  himself 
and  not  injurious  to  his  neighbor  nor  to  the  State,  they  v/ill  cease  the  advo- 
cacy of  principles  as  inconsistent  with  all  free  government  as  they  are  sub- 
versive of  our  own. 

"We  would  commend  to  those  who  write  in  a  foreign  language,  of  consti- 
tutions and  laws  they  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  studied,  the  expositions 
of  Marshall,  Story,  or  their  own  Prof.  Lieber.  They  will  find  the  latter,  in 
his  work  on  Civil  Liberty,  remarking :  "  The  great  mission  which  this 
country  has  to  perform,  with  reference  to  Europe,  requires  the  utter  divorce 
of  State  and  Church — NOT  Religion."  Judge  Story  well  says :  "  It  is 
impossible  for  those  who  believe  in  the  truth  of  Christianity,  as  a  divine 
revelation,  to  doubt  that  it  is  the  especial  duty  of  government  to  foster  and 
encourage  it  among  all  the  citizens  and  subjects.  This  is  a  point  wholly 
distinct  from  that  of  the  right  of  private  judgment  in  matters  of  religion, 
and  of  the  freedom  of  public  worship  according  to  the  dictates  of  one's 
own  conscience."  Our  State  constitutions  recognize  this  principle — securing 
to  all  the  opportunity  for  unmolested  worship ;  but  not  warranting  the 
grossest  immoralities  under  the  plea  of  "sacredness,"  or  on  the  score  of 
'''■religious  freedom." 

If  Christianity  be  a  part  of  the  Common  Law  of  the  land,  as  decided  by 
our  couns,  and  the  Common  Law  be  recognized  as  of  equal  authority  as 
our  Statutes,  may  not  practices  palpably  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  that 
law,  and  in  direct  conflict  with  the  opinions  and  usages  of  the  Christian 
community,  of  all  denominations,  be  restrained?  "We  are  not  less  but 
more  a  Christian  nation  that  we  have  and  wish  to  have  no  estoblished 
church ;  and  that  deep  down  in  the  heart  of  the  people  the  conviction  lies 
that  "righteousness  exalteth  a  nation" — such  "righteousness"  as  is  insepa- 
rably associated  with  the  holy  keeping  of  the  Sabbath,  and  irreconcilably 
opposed  to  the  perversion  of  that  day  into  an  occasion  of  senseless  popular 
folly  and  dissipation.  The  significant  fact  that  in  all  the  discussions  which 
have  arisen  respecting  our  Sunday  Laws,  the  journals  opposed  to  the  Sab- 
bath have  invariably  ignored  their  real  provisions  and  caricatured  their 
object — without  once  informing  their  readers  what  the  laws  are,  and  what 
the  practical  issues  have  been  under  them, — is  conclusive  evidence  that 
the  laws  as  they  are  and  as  they  are  executed  contain  no  oppressive  or 
tmreasonable  provisions. 


SUNDAY    THEATRES,    ETC.  21 

Of  our  Sunday  Laws  it  may  be  enough  to  say  that  they  have  existed, 
in  various  forms,  from  early  colonial  times,  and  from  the  foundation  of  our 
several  State  governments.  Tiie  only  decision  against  their  constitution- 
ality was  pronounced  by  a  California  judge,  whose  subsequent  acts  do  not 
add  special  weight  to  his  legal  opinions.  We  have  not  known  of  any 
serious  opposition  to  them,  excepting  from  parties  whose  interest  or  appe- 
tites render  their  restraints  irksome.  Of  their  propriety  and  necessity  no 
reasonable  doubt  can  be  entertained.  No  one,  we  suppose,  will  question 
the  right  of  the  Legislature  to  restrict  the  legal  term  of  daily  labor  to  ten 
hours;  is  there  any  more  question  of  its  right  to  restrict  the  number  of 
working-days  to  six  in  a  week  ?  The  right  to  restrain  the  sale  of  intoxi- 
catmg  liquors  on  election  days  is  undisputed ;  may  not  the  same  right  be 
exercised  as  to  the  day  of  weekly  leisure  ?  Theatrical  exhibitions  and 
various  shows  can  only  be  publicly  given  under  a  formal  license  therefor ; 
may  not  conditions  as  to  time  and  circumstances  be  inserted  in  their 
licenses  ?  The  Legislature  enacts  that  boys  under  fourteen  shall  attend 
no  theatrical  exhibition ;  may  it  not  consistently  direct  that  those  exhibi- 
tions shall  only  be  held  on  secular  days? 

As  to  the  adequacy  of  existing  statutes  to  the  suppression  of  the  specific 
evils  now  exposed,  it  is  not  our  province  to  determine.  It  is  clear  that 
none  of  them  contemplated  such  vast  organized  and  complicated  methods 
of  popular  corruption  as  have  come  into  vogue  ;  else  the  penalties  would 
have  been  more  proportioned  to  the  offence.  But  it  is  believed  that  the 
spirit  and  letter  of  the  laws  and  ordinances  designed  to  prevent  all  traffic 
on  Sunday,  especially  the  tratde  in  intoxicating  liquors ;  the  laws  against 
gambling  at  all  times,  and  the  general  authority  of  the  Police  Department 
"  to  prevent  crime,"  "  to  preserve  the  public  peace,"  "  to  protect  the  rights 
of  persons  and  property,  and  to  see  that  all  laws  relating  to  the  observance 
of  Sunday,  and  regarding  gambling  and  intemperance  are  properly 
enforced," — ^if  carried  out  with  firmness,  would  abate  most,  if  not  all,  of 
the  evils  under  consideration. 

Or,  should  it  be  found  that  a  dangerous  and  demoralizing  system  has 
grown  up,  for  which  there  jare  no  adequate  restraints, — because  no  Legis- 
lature of  former  years  was  apprised  of  the  existence  of  such  flagrant 
wrongs, — may  it  not  be  claimed  that  our  Legislators  shall  frame  and  enact 
such  statutes  as  the  exigency  demands  ?  Can  there  be  a  doubt  that  a  vig- 
orous public  sentiment  would  sustain  the  execution  of  such  statutes  ? 

G-ermaii  Sentiment  on  the  Sunday  Question. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten,  that  besides  the  almost  universal  conviction 
among  citizens  of  American  birth,  that  on  humane,  sanitary,  patriotic,  or 
religious  grounds  the  christian  Sabbath  should  be  guarded  from  frivolous 


22  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC. 

or  demoralizing  uses;  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  immigrant  popula- 
tion, and  especially  the  emigrants  from  Germany,  have  accepted  the  Amer- 
ican vicAvs  on  this  question,  at  least  so  far  as  to  earnestly  reprobate  the  in- 
fidel and  atheistic  notions  and  practices  of  a  later  and  looser  emigration. 
Thus,  the  leading  influences  in  the  Roman  Catholic  body  cannot  but  be 
hostile  to  a  system  as  irreligious  as  it  is  demoralizing.  The  Lutheran 
body  as  a  whole — by  far  the  largest  Protestant  German  sect — ^is  under- 
stood to  repudiate  the  scandalous  system  which  falsely  pleads  the  name  of 
the  great  Reformer  of  Germany  as  a  cover  for  its  excesses.  The  German 
Reformed  Church — the  next  denomination  in  size  to  the  Lutheran — at  the 
last  meeting  of  its  General  Synod,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  uttered  its  "  solemn 
testimony  against  the  m-ovement  in  opposition  to  that  christian  observance 
of  the  Lord's  day  which  has  hitherto  distinguished  us  as  a  nation,  as  calcu- 
lated not  only  to  undermine  the  foundations  of  our  free  institutions,  which 
rest  greatly  on  the  virtue  and  piety  of  the  people,  but  also  as  at  war  with 
the  physical,  mental,  and  moral  good  of  our  citizens."  The  resolutions  em- 
bodying this  testimony  were  passed  unanimously.  All  the  minor  German 
christian  denominations  are  believed  to  occupy  a  similar  position. 

The  memorable  expression  of  popular  sentiment  among  the  Germans, 
made  at  the  recent  meeting  in  Cooper  Institute^  (October  16,  1859,)  when 
fifteen  hundred  of  them  arose  from  their  seats  to  affirm  their  approval  of 
the  following  resolutions,  would  show  that  our  German  fellow-citizens  may 
be  largely  classed  among  the  friends  of  Sabbath  observance: 

Resolutions  of  1500  Germans  at  Cooper  Institute. 

^''Resolved,  That  we,  as  Germans,  do  solemnly  protest  against  the  perversion  of 
Sunday  from  a  day  of  rest  and  devotion  into  a  day  of  noisy  excitement  and  dis- 
sipation, which  is  only  too  frequent  among  some  of  our  German  countrymen, 
and  brings  dishonor  on  the  German  name  ;  and  that  we  request  our  fellow-citi- 
zens by  no  means  to  charge  the  fault  of  many  upon  the  lohole  people  and  upon 
Germany,  where  for  many  years  past  noble  efforts  are  successfuDy  making  to- 
wards the  promotion  of  the  better  observance  of  Sunday. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  strict  observance  of  Sunday  which  was  intro- 
duced into  this  country  with  the  very  first  settlements  of  European  immigrants, 
and  has  ever  since  been  the  common  custom  of  the  land,  by  no  means  as  a  de- 
fect, but  on  the  contrary  as  a  great  advantage  and  blessing  to  America,  and  we 
will  cheerfully  assist  in  keeping  it  up  and  handing  it  down  to  future  genera- 
tions. 

'■'Resolved,  That  in  the  Sabbath  Laws  of  this  country,  as  they  obtain  in  nearly 
every  State  of  our  great  republican  confederacy,  we  see  nothing  that  conflicts 
with  the  cherished  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  on  the  contrary,  we 
regard  them  as  one  of  the  strongest  guarantees  of  our  free  institutions ;  as  a 


SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC.  23 

wliolesome  check  upon  licentiousness  and  dissipation,  as  a  preventative  of  the 
pauperism  and  crime  which  must  necessarily  undermine  and  ultimately  destroy 
the  liberty  of  any  people." 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  vast  body  of  Germans,  who  comprise  so 
industrious  and  useful  a  portion  of  our  agricultural  population,  sympathize 
with  the  spirit  of  the  above  resolutions.  It  is  in  our  cities,  among  the 
sceptical  and  radical  elements  of  society,  that  the  men  are  found  to  sink  all 
moral  considerations  in  those  of  selfish  greed  or  corrupt  appetite,  and  for  the 
sake  of  both,  to  defy  both  human  and  divine  laws,  and  the  prevailing 
public  sentiment  of  the  country  of  their  adoption,  as  well  as  of  the  bet- 
ter disposed  of  their  own  emigrant  countrymen.  One  of  the  latter,  an 
eminent  German  writer,  expresses  his  "  disgust"  at  the  "  apeing  of  German 
national  festivities  and  Sunday  amusements  in  America" — comparing  it  with 
the  effort  of  "  a  party  of  monkeys  from  a  tropical  climate  to  try  their  antics 
on  polar  ice-fields — expecting  that  the  polar  bears  will  jump  and  dance  with 
them !  "  or  with  "  that  northern  summer  of  which  H.  Heine  says,  it  is  no 
proper  summer,  but  rather  '  winter  painted  green!'"  Whatever  maybe 
true  as  to  the  implication  of  coldness  in  our  American  social  life,  there  can 
be  no  question  as  to  the  absurdity  and  the  wickedness  of  obtruding  upon  us 
the  monkey  pranks  of  the  "  Sacred  Concert"  and  the  Beer-Garden.  But 
the  object  of  this  citation  is  simply  to  show,  as  we  might  by  extended 
quotations  from  German  writers,  that  this  whole  system  of  Sunday  pleasure- 
seeking  is  an  oSence  and  a  scandal  to  the  right-minded  Germans  them- 
selves, who  would  be  the  first  to  hail  its  extermination 

Conclusion. 

We  have  thus  sought  to  interest  the  public  in  a  question  of  no  inconsid- 
erable moment.  A  vast,  organized,  and  rapidly  extending  system  of 
Sabbath  desecration  and  popular  demoralization  has  sprung  up  under  the 
concealment  of  a  foreign  language,  and  of  false  announcements.  Scores  of 
theatres  give  public  entertainments,  with  comic  songs  and  dances,  on  the 
day  and  at  the  hours  of  public  worship.  Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands, 
especially  of  the  young,  resort  to  them  for  drink,  play  and  revelry.  We  have 
shown  that  this  system  cannot  justly  plead  for  forbearance  as  a  "  national 
custom,"  because  of  its  excesses,  and  because  the  rights  of  emigration  do 
not  imply  the  right  to  import  and  naturalize  foreign  usages  and  especially 
foreign  vices.  We  have  shown  that  the  organic  life  of  this  country  is  that 
of  a  Christian  Sabbath-keeping  nation  ;  that  whether  the  views  almost  uni- 
versally cherished  here  are  right  or  wrong,  they  are  to  be  respected  because 
they  are  American  views,  by  those  coming  from  other  lands ;  and  that  it  is 
an  impertinence  to  invade  our  institutions  and  laws  by  practices  known  to 


24  SUNDAY  THEATRES,    ETC 

be  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  both — such  practices  as  have  made  a  neigh- 
boring repubhc  "  a  weak,  demorahzed,  and  decaying  nation."  We  have 
demonstrated  the  absurdity  of  the  objections  to  the  constitutionahty  of  laws 
in  the  interest  of  good  morals,  of  immemorial  authority,  and  have  sought 
to  free  the  German  population  as  a  whole  from  complicity  with  lawless 
views  and  practices. 

We  now  commit  this  question  to  our  authorities,  Judicial,  Executive 
and  Legislative,  and  to  an  intelligent  community.  Every  citizen  has  an 
interest  in  preserving  and  perpetuating  an  orderly  Sabbath,  and  in  guard 
ing  it  from  such  invasions  as  are  herein  exposed.  Even  the  parties  to  the 
wrong  of  which  we  complain  would  be  more  "healthy,  wealthy  and  wise" 
by  the  removal  of  the  temptations  to  wicked  and  idle  indulgence  in  the 
Sunday  saloon.  And,  as  a  community  responsible  for  good  or  ill  example 
over  a  continent,  do  we  not,  in  addition  to  every  motive  of  self-preservation 
and  self-respect,  owe  it  to  other  cities  to  purge  ourselves  of  a  system  of 
Sunday  profanation  so  scandalous,  demoralizing,  and  indefensible  as  that  of 
our  Sunday  theatres,   "Sacred  concerts,"  and  Lager-beer  saloons? 


NORMAN  WHITE,   Chairman. 

HENRY  J".  BAKER,  HORACE  HOLDEN, 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.D.,  JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 

NATHAN  BISHOP,  GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  WM.  A.  SMITH, 

ROBERT  CARTER,  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 

WARREN  CARTER,  W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS,  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

E.  L.  FANCHER,  P.   S.  WINSTON. 

PRED.  G.  POSTER,  0.  E.  WOOD, 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,   Corresponding  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer. 


53 


SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW  YORK. 

|^=°   Orders  for  this  Document  may  be  addressed  to  the  Secretary   as 
above.     Price^  $2.50  per  hundred. 


■^-^-^■^■**-^^*'******-*******'**'*-*-*-*-'^-*-'^^*^^-'-'-'-'^'^^'^^-'-'*-'^-^- 


PROGRESS 


SABBATH   EEFOEM. 


»■  ^» « •-  -•« 


1.  Suppression  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic— History  and  Results. 

2.  Sunday  News-Crying  Abolished. 

3.  The  Broderic  Sunday-Pageant— Protest. 

4.  Sabbath  Sentiment  and  Labors  among  the  Germans— Volk' s  Garden 

and  Cooper  Institute  Meetings. 

5.  German  Theatres,  Sacred  Concerts  and  Beer-Gardens. 

6.  Co-operation  of  the  Periodical  Press. 

7.  Opposition  of  the  Sunday  Press. 

1.  Constitutionality  of  Sunday  Laws. 

2.  Morality  of  the  Sabbath. 

8.  Progress  in  other  cities,  and  in  Europe. 

9.  Conclusion— Narrow  Issues — ftuiet  Methods — Opposition  Unmasked 

—Manly  Action  Invoked. 

10.  Great  Public  Meeting — Proceedings  and  Addresses. 


DOCUMENT  No.   XII 


THE    >^EW    YOEK    SABBATH    COMMITTEE. 


NEW    YORK: 
1<:  D  W  A  R  D    0  .    JE  N  IC  I  N  ,^ ,    1^  R  I  N  T  E  R 

No.  2Ö    FKANKFORT    STlilCET. 

18Ö0. 


Progress  of  the  Sabbath.  Reform. 


It  is  due  alike  to  the  Committee  and  the  public  that  the  cheering 
events  in  the  progi\3ss  of  the  Sabbath  Reform  should  be  placed  on 
record,  as  a  memorial  of  the  Divine  goodness,  and  an  incentive  to 
future  exertions.  They  are  believed  to  have  a  significance  and  a 
scope  of  pregnant  interest,  not  merely  in  the  city  which  forms  the 
principal  scene  of  their  occurrence,  and  for  the  passing  hour;  but 
wherever  the  Christian  Sabbath  is  invaded,  and  whenever  its  friends 
shall  seek  to  guard  its  sanctity.  Nor  is  their  value  lessened  by  the 
fact  that  the  results  already  achieved  have  been  attained  in  a  great 
city,  whose  population  is  largely  composed  of  heterogeneous  and  hos- 
tile elements ;  with  authorities  partly  committed  to  interests  un- 
friendly to  this  Reform  ;  with  powerful  and  amply  endowed  com- 
binations, ready  to  turn  to  account  any  mistaken  movement,  and  to 
contest  every  wise  one ;  and  in  the  face  of  powerful  presses,  whose 
self-interest  conspired  with  their  hatred  of  legal  or  moral  obligations  to 
render  their  opposition  fierce  and  unscrupulous.  If  such  results  as  are 
hereafter  recorded  may  be  reached  in  these  circumstances,  it  would 
seem  that  wise  and  patient  efforts,  under  more  favoring  auspices, 
might,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  secure  all  that  is  needed  in  restrain- 
ing the  open  profanation  of  the  day  of  rest. 

Suppression  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 

The  leading  enterprise  of  the  j^ast  year  has  aimed  at  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Trafiic.  A  brief  history  of  it  will  not  be 
out  of  place  in  this  document. 

The  circumstances  of  discouragement  at  the  outset  of  the  effort  to 
close  more  than  5000  Sunday  dram-shops  need  not  be  recapitulated. 
It  is  enough  to  say  that  nothing  in  the  constitution  or  condition  of 
the  municipal  authorities,  judicial  or  executive;  in  the  state  of  public 


2  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

sentiment ;  or  in  previous  attempts  at  city  reform,  encouraged  the 
undertaking.  The  Metropolitan  Police  Commissioners,  after  lodging 
26,000  complaints  for  the  violation  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law  with 
the  prosecuting  officers,  none  of  which  had  been  prosecuted  to  con- 
viction, say  in  their  Report  to  the  Legislature,  Nov.  1858:  "Unless 
the  Legislature  shall  compel  the  observance  of  the  day  by  severe 
penalties,  and  by  summary  proceedings,  the  onerous  duty  of  report- 
ing its  desecration  will  be  useless."  The  deep  conviction  of  the 
necessity  of  prompt  and  manly  action,  and  the  confidence  that  a 
vigorous  public  sentiment  miglit  give  adequate  energy  to  existing 
laws,  and  efficiency  to  their  administration,  induced  the  committee 
to  undertake  a  movement  surrounded  with  so  many  difficulties. 

Afler  protracted  inquiry  and  deliberation,  the  issue  Avas  joined  with 
this  gigantic  evil,  in  a  document  (No.  5)  issued  in  February,  '59,  en- 
titled, "  The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,"  of  which  some  7000  copies  were 
circulated  gratuitously.  The  facts  and  views  of  this  Pamphlet  were 
made  the  basis  of  an  able  popular  discussion  by  the  Press,  and  the 
reform  was  advocated  with  special  ability  by  all  our  respectable  daily 
journals.  Public  sentiment  rapidly  assumed  a  tone  of  calm  determina- 
tion that  admitted  no  farther  parleying  with  an  unblushing  outrage 
against  law  and  right  and  religion. 

With  the  view  of  concentrating  public  opinion,  and  securing  the 
action  of  the  department  charged  with  the  execution  of  laws  and 
ordinances  affecting  this  evil,  a  Memorial  of  Citizens  was  prepared, 
settmg  forth  its  nature  and  extent,  as  shown  by  the  Presentments  of 
successive  Grand  Juries  ;  by  the  statistical  records  of  the  Police  De- 
partment, and  by  other  authentic  data ;  and  appealing  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  in  virtue  of  their  organic  Act, 
and  to  the  extent  of  their  powers,  to  interpose  for  the  Protection  and 
Relief  of  the  city  from  this  demonstrated  cause  of  Pauperism,  Taxa- 
tion and  Crime.  A  Digest  of  the  Laws  and  Ordinances  against  this 
Traffic,  and  other  bases  of  the  memorial,  accompanied  the  jiaper.  It 
received  between  500  and  600  signatures  of  our  most  influential 
citizens  in  a  few  hours :  enough  to  show  that  all  classes  and  conditions 
of  right-minded  men,  without  regard  to  sect  or  pnrty,  concurred  in 
sentiment  as  to  this  matter.  A  similar  memorial  in  the  German  lan- 
ffuacce  had  more  than  400  sicrnatures  of  Germans.  The  two  memorials 
were  presented  to  the  Commissioners,  Mny  27,  by  a  joint  Delegation 
of  American  and  German  citizens  — Pclatiah  Perrit,  Esq.,  at  the  head 
of  the  former,  and  Mr.  John  Müller  of  the  latter.  The  memorials 
were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  LaAvs  and  Ordinances. 

[The  two  memorials  in  English  and  Gorninn,  Avith  the  neAvspaper 


PKOGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  3 

discussions  growing  out  of  the  movement,  constitute  Documents  Nos. 
7  and  8,  more  fully  noticed  hereafter.] 

A  "  Remonstrance"  and  '■''  Coimter-MemoriaV''  were  presented  to 
the  Commissioners,  July  3,  signed  by  446  Americana,  and  742  Ger- 
mans, all  of  them  claiming  to  be  "  voters.''''  A  comj^arison  of  their 
names  with  the  Directory  showed,  however,  that  of  the  446  Ameri- 
can "Remonstrants"  against  the  enforcement  of  laws  to  restrain 
Sunday  tippling,  118  were  non-residents  ;  241  coida  not  he  found  in 
the  Directory  ;  38  were  Liquor  Dealers,  or  other  interested  parties ; 
and  the  remaining  49  were  "  clerks,"  etc.  Of  500  German  names 
examined,  104  were  non-residents,  180  could  not  be  found  in  the 
Directory,  36  were  Lager  or  Liquor  Dealars,  leaving  180  qualified 
petitioners. 

Action  of  the  Police   Commissioners. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Police  Board,  Jxily  8,  Mr.  Stillman  in  the 
chair,  and  all  the  Commissioners  being  present,  Judge  Ulshoefler,  on 
behalf  of  the  Committee  on  Laws  and  Ordinances,  submitted  the 
following  report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted: 

"  The  Committee  on  Laws  and  Ordinances  having  considered  the 
petitions  for,  and  remonstrances  against,  the  enforcement  of  the  exist- 
ing laws  relative  to  the  observance  of  Sunday,  respectfully  ofler  the 
following  resolutions: 

"  1 .  This  Board  is  bound  by  its  organization  to  enforce  the  laws  as  they  exist ; 
it  being  a  well-settled  principle,  that  the  administrative  departments  cannot  excuse  en- 
forcing a  law,  on  the  ground  of  doubts  as  to  its  conflicting  with  the  spirit  of  the  Con- 
stitution. 

"  2.  The  Christian  religion  is  that  which  has  always  existed  since  the  settlement  of 
the  country,  and  now  exists  in  these  United  States  ;  recognized  and  professed  by  the 
masses  of  the  people  of  various  religious  denominations,  and  nearly  all  of  which  regard 
the  Christian  Sabbath  as  part  of  their  religion. 

"  3.  That  the  highest  judicial  authorities  regard  the  Christian  religion  as  the  prevail- 
ing religion  of  the  country,  and  that  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  all  other  religions 
must  still  leave  the  principles,  practices,  and  laws  of  the  whole  Christian  community- 
paramount,  and  in  full  force. 

"  4.  That  the  true  principles  of  religious  liberty  do  not  allow  the  smallest  por- 
tions of  the  community  to  call  upon  the  great  masses  of  the  people  to  abandon  the 
enforcement  of  those  Sunday  laws  which  have  existed  since  the  settlement  of  the 
country. 

"  5.  That  present  abuses  in  disregarding  the  Sunday  laws,  particularly  in  public 
exhibitions  on  Sundays,  and  trafficking  in  liquors  and  other  like  things,  should,  as  far 
as  the  law  allows,  be  prevented  by  the  whole  power  of  the  police  force  and  of  the 
magistracy. 

"  6.  That  the  laws  of  the  land,  in  conformity  with  the  opinion  of  the  masses  of  the 
people,  in  regard  to  moral  principles  and  practices,  and  fur  the  punishment  of  trans- 
gressors any  day  of  the  ircek,  are  not  to  be  disregarded  or  repealed,  because  of  peculiar 
notions  of  morals  entertained  by  small  portions  of  the  community." 

These  important  Resolutions  take  higher  ground  than  that  claimed 
by  the  Memorialists,  and  furnish  a  basis  for  all  needed  Refonns  for 
the  restoration  and  protection  of  our  civil  Sabbath.  And  their  unani- 
mo^(s  adojition  by  a  Board  composed  of  men  of  various  parties  and* 


4  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

creeds  would  seem  to  argue  the  existence  of  a  united  public  senti- 
ment on  the  main  principles  underlying  the  Sabbath  Reform. 
Whether  "  the  whole  power  of  the  Police  force  and  of  the  magis- 
tracy" has  been,  as  yet,  employed  to  "  prevent  the  present  abuses  in 
disregarding  the  Sunday  laws,  particularly  in  public  exhibitions  ou 
Sundays,  and  trafficking  in  liquors  and  other  like  things,  as  far  as  the 
law  alloios^'^  may  be  doubted.  It  is  the  opinion  of  competent  coun- 
sel, and  the  opinion  has  been  expressed  from  the  Bencli,  that  the 
organic  act  of  the  Police  Board  authorizes  the  Commissioners  "  to 
order  the  Police  to  close  up  the  jjlaces  lohere  intoxicating  liquors 
are  sold ;  to  guard  the  premises.,  and  restrain  2^ersons  from  going 
into  them  ;  and  to  arrest  p)ersons  selling  liquors  contrary  to  laxo 
icithout  a,  xoarrant^  if  the  act  is  committed  in  their  presence  /" 
and  farther  than  this,  that  the  neglect  of  a  policeman  to  make  such 
arrests  for  a  violation  of  the  Laws  of  the  State,  committed  in  his 
presence,  is  itself  a  misdoneanor.  [See  sec.  22  of  Meti'opolitan 
Police  Act.] 

It  may  be  worthy  of  consideration  whether  the  time  has  not  come 
for  the  exercise  of  these  reserved  and  unused  powers,  inasmuch  as 
Prosecuting  Officers  and  Courts  of  Law  fail  to  execute  the  Laws 
under  which  the  Commissioners  have  hitherto  proceeded. 

Action  of  the  Police. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  the  presentation  of  the  Memorial  of 
Citizens,  the  then  Acting-General  Superintendent  (Carpenter)  stimu- 
lated the  action  of  the  Captains  of  Precincts  and  Patrolmen  ;  and  in 
some  Wards  the  Sunday  traffic  was  considerably  checked  before  the 
accession  of  the  General  Superintendent  Pillsbury,  and  in  advance 
of  the  action  of  the  Commissioners.  Many  nicmbers  of  the  Depart- 
ment entered  with  spirit  on  the  enforcement  of  the  laws,  the  con- 
stant violation  of  wdiich  was  the  known  cause  of  a  large  share  of 
their  burdens.  The  way  was  thus  ])repared  for  the  new  General 
Superintendent,  when  he  entered  on  his  office  (July  3),  to  prosecute 
this  and  kindred  measures  of  Reform — ample  powers  being  pledged 
for  this  purpose  as  the  condition  of  his  acceptance  of  the  important 
position.  After  a  sufficient  interval  to  survey  the  ground  and  mature 
his  plans,  he  issued  a  General  Order  (Aug.  9)  to  the  Captains  of 
Precincts,  directing  them  to  "  instruct  the  members  of  their  com- 
mand to  see  that  all  places  in  their  Precincts  where  intoxicating 
liquors  are,  publicly  kept  or  sold  on  Sunday  shall  be  closed  in 
future  on  that  day."  This  order  was  generally  obeyed;  and  the 
p>uhlic  exposure  and  sale  of  liquors  on  Sunday,  thenceforward,  became 
the  exception  and  not  the  rule,  with  results  hereafter  to  be  noted. 

Action  of  Courts  of  Laio  and  Excise  GommAssioners. 

Meanwhile,  some  of  the  almost  innumerable  complaints  lodged  by 
the  Police  in  the  District  Attorney's  Office  were  moved  for  trial  in 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Hilton^  Justice.  Thnnks  to  the  firm- 
*ness   of   the  Judge,  and  the   altered  tone   of  public  sentiment,  an 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  5 

impartial  Jury  was  obtained  with  no  little  difficulty.*  In  twelve 
successive  cases  verdicts  wei'e  rendered  and  fines  imposed  according 
to  the  statute.  The  counsel  of  the  Liquor-dealers  excepted  to  the 
ruling-  of  Judge  Hilton  on  some  points  of  law,  and  an  appeal  was 
taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  twelve  cases — the  legion  of  suits 
remaining  to  abide  the  event.  It  was  reasonably  expected  that  a 
matter  of  such  moment,  affecting  the  interests  of  many  thousands  of 
dealers,  and  so  vitally  related  to  public  morals,  would  have  had  an 
early  hearing — especially  after  the  unexplained  and  unpardonable 
delay  of  one  or  tAVO  years  in  bringing  the  suits  to  trial  at  all.  But 
nearly  nine  mouths  have  passed  away  (the  trials  occurred  in  June, 
1859) ;  and  the  intimation  is  now  given  that  not  until  the  return 
of  the  prosecuting  officer  deputed  to  try  these  suits,  will  argument 
be  had, — with  a  decision,  xohenf  Are  other  public  interests  than 
those  affecting  the  business  of  rum-selling  similarly  trifled  with  ?  It 
is  certain  that  Sunday  street-preachers  are  fined  and  imprisoned  on 
the  day  of  their  offence  ! 

The  Excise  Commissioners,  whose  office  was  so  nearly  a  sinecure 
that  the  whole  number  of  licenses  issued  in  1858  was  less  tlian  100 — 
or  about  ojie  per  cent,  of  the  dealers, — entered  on  more  vigorous 
action,  the  Police  authorities  having  furnished  the  names  of  many 
thousands  of  unlicensed  venders  for  their  consideration.  It  seems 
that  357  inn-keepers,  grocers,  &c.,  were  licensed  during  the  year ; 
and  that  "  suits  for  violation  of  the  License  Law  have  been  com- 
menced against  8,628  jDersons."  Some  convictions  have  recently 
been  had  against  Sunday  dram-sellers  on  suits  prosecuted  by  the 
Excise  Commissioners  under  the  Act  of  '57 ;  and  the  intention  is 
avowed  to  continue  the  suits.  Meanwhile,  more  than  95  per  cent, 
of  all  the  dram-shops  in  the  city  violate  the  law  of  the  State  by  every 
sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  on  a7iy  day  of  the  week. 

The  Liquor  Dealers'^  Association. 

Perhaps  a  partial  explanation  of  the  difficulties  and  delays  attending 
the  effort  to  suppress  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  may  be  traced  to  the 
existence  of  a  powerful  secret  organization,  known  as  the  "  Liquor 
Dealers'  Association,"  composed  of  more  than  six  thousand  members, 
mostly  of  foreign  birth.  The  ample  funds  of  this  body  are  furnished  by 
an  initiation  fee  of  twenty-one  dollars,  and  an  annual  payment  of  four 
dollars  by  each  member.  The  objects  of  this  association  may  be 
inferred  from  fxcts  brought  to  light  by  the  explosion  last  summer  of 
the  Bi'ooklyn  organization — the  seceding  party  laying  down  a  new 
basis  for  their  association,  to  the  effect  that  there  wei'e  to  be  "  no 
forced  levies  tqyon  its  members  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  courts, 
public  officers,  or  paying  imaginary  counsel  fees ;  no  dictation  of 
political  jKirties  loho  they  shall  have  for  candidates,''''  etc.  Besides 
the  occasional  boast  of  political  power  and  success  in  behalf  of  this 

*  The  law  reporter  of  the  Times  says :  "  Four-fifths  of  all  the  jurors  called  were 
liquor-dealers,  or  were  particular  friends  of  that  class.  How  they  came  to  be  present , 
on  these  particular  trials,  does  uot  clearly  appear." 


6  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

organization,  there  have  been  manifold  indications  of  its  restraining 
and  disturbing  influence  in  the  administration  of  public  justice  when- 
ever the  rights  of  the  people  and  the  lawlessness  of  the  liquor  interest 
have  been  in  question,  as  the  Excise  Commissioners  avow,  and  as  every 
magistrate  knows. 

The  course  pursued  by  the  Sunday  Press  in  this  conflict  between 
the  friends  of  law  and  morals  and  the  antagonists  of  both  will  be 
noticed  hereafter.  It  is  enough  to  say  here  that  all  that  could  be 
done  by  the  multiplication  of  false  issues,  and  by  the  abuse  of  the  Police 
Connnissioners,  the  Superintendent  of  Police,  the  Sunday  Liquor 
Traftic  Memorialists,  and  the  Sabbath  Committee,  was  done,  and  was 
persisted  in  to  the  last :  without  a  grain  of  justice — and  loithout  a 
xoord  of  reply. 

The  attempts  to  enlist  party  support,  or  to  form  a  new  party  on  a 
No-Sunday  platform ;  and  the  culmination  of  this  policy  in  the  Volks- 
Garden  intidel  meeting,  will  be  subsequently  alluded  to  more  dis- 
tinctly. The  aid  they  unwittingly  rendered  in  hastening  the  over- 
throw of  the  bad  interest  they  sought  to  advance,  should  be  recog- 
nized in  this  connection.  It  Avill  be  seen  that  they  had  other  valuable 
uses. 

Statistics  of  the  Police  Department. 

A  comparison  of  the  statistics  of  crime  for  the  six  months  since 
August  1,  1859,  (the  order  of  Gen.  Pillsbury  to  close  the  Sunday 
Liquor-shojis  was  issued  August  9,)  with  those  of  the  eighteen  months 
preceding  the  exposure  of  the  evils  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  pre- 
sents the  followinar  instructive  results : 


SUNDAY  CRIME  IN"   1857-58. 

Arrests  on  Sundays  for  eighteen  months,  .         .     9,713 

"  Tuesdays  "  "...     7,861 


Excess  of  arrests  on  Sundays, 1,853 

or  about  twenty-five  per  cent,  more  of  arrests  for  drunkenness  and 
crime  on  Sundays  than  on  Tuesdays. 

SUNDAY   CPJME  IN   1859-GO. 

Arrests  on  Tuesdays  for  six  months,  to  Jan.  31,  1860,  5,461 
Sundays  "  "  "       3,481 


Excess  of  arrests  on  Tuesdays  ....     1,980 

or  sixty  per  cent,  more  on  the  Tuesdays  than  on  the  Sundays  during 
the  past  six  months.  If  extended  over  a  corresponding  period,  it 
would  make  an  excess  of  Tuesday  over  Sunday  crime  of  5,940  arrests 
for  eighteen  months,  in  ])lace  of  the  excess  of  1853  arrests  on  Sunday 
over  Tuesday,  as  formerly. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  .  T 

But  to  make  the  comparison  just — to  say  notliing  of  the  steady 
dhiiinution  of  arrests  for  crime  ou  all  days — the  previous  average 
excess  of  Sunday  arrests  over  those  of  Tuesday  should  be  taken  into 
account  in  ascertaining  the  relative  as  well  as  the  absolute  gain  on  the 
side  of  good  morals.  Thus,  had  the  former  ratio  continued  at  twenty- 
five  per  cent,  of  Sunday  over  Tuesday  arrests,  the  statistics  tooidd 
have  been  as  follows  : 

Estimated  arrests  for  the  Sundays  of  past  six  months,  6,826 
Actual  "■  "  "  3,481 


Relative  gain  on  Sunday  crime  for  six  months,       .        3,345 
or  within  a  fraction  of  one-half  of  the  whole  amount. 

To  these  cheering  statements  should  be  added  the  fact  that,  while 
the  number  of  offences  is  as  much  greater  on  Sundays  than  on  other 
days. as  there  are  Sunday  laws  and  ordinances  to  be  violated — the 
number  of  offenders,  as  appears  by  the  statistics  of  arrests,  has  steadily 
and  rapidly  decreased  from  month  to  month  during  the  period  mider 
review,  so  that  it  is  an  average  of  more  than  thirty-three  per  cent,  less 
during  each  of  the  last  three  months  than  during  the  preceding  three 
months ;  and  the  ratio  of  arrests  for  Tuesdays  has  also  fallen  off  twenty 
per  cent. 

Froni  the  Quarterly  Report  of  the  General  Superintendent,  Jan.  3, 
1860,  it  appears  that  there  has  been  a  falling  off  during  the  quarter  of 
seven  thousand  (7,028)  in  the  number  of  arrests  within  the  Metropol- 
itan Police  District, — nearly  six  thousand  in  this  city  alone — as  com- 
pared with  those  of  the  quarter  ending  November  1.  This  is  believ- 
ed to  be  the  first  indication  of  an  ebbing  tide  in  the  sea  of  crime 
that  has  nearly  engulfed  us,  since  the  flood-gates  were  opened  in  1834 
by  the  repeal  of  all  our  municipal  Sunday  ordinances. 

We  are  thus  receiving  the  first  instalments  of  the  promised  bless- 
ings invariably  accompanying  even  an  external  regard  for  the  Sabbath  ; 
— the  earnest,  we  may  hope,  of  those  rich  rewards  of  Providence  and 
grace  divinely  pledged  to  the  individuals  and  communities  who  "turn 
away  their  foot  from  doing  their  pleasure  on  the  holy  day,  and  call 
the  Sabbath  a  delight,  the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honorable." 

Hesults  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  Movement. 

Existing  facts  do  not  warrant  the  claim  that  the  Sunday  Liquor 
Traffic  has  been  completely  suppressed.  It  has  been  checJced,  and  a 
hopeful  beginning  made  in  eradicating  a  great  wrong.  The  pidylic 
violation  of  law  has  been  much  lessened,  and  open  temptation  to  vice 
has  been  mostly  removed.  In  a  large  number  of  instances,  dealers 
who  have  any  self  respect,  or  a  decent  regard  to  public  opinion  and 
legal  authority,  have  abandoned  their  Sunday  business  altogether. 
In  other  cases,  the  traffic  is  continued  secretly  or  with  considerable 
caution.  Others  boldly  defy  the  authoi'ities,  or  trust  to  their  neglect, 
or  to  the  complicity  of  prosecuting  officers  and  courts  of  justice,  and 
drive  on  their  work  of  ruin  without  concealment  and  Avithout  com- 
punction.     The   Sunday  Theatres,  "  Sacred   Concerts,"   and  Lager 


8  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

Beer  Saloons  and  Gardens  have  not  ceased  tlieir  performances,  or  their 
traffic  in  malt  or  s})irituoiis  liquors ;  and  numerous  large  establish- 
ments on  Broadway  outdo  the  German  "  Gardens"  in  the  grossness 
of  their  immoralities  and  the  infamous  nature  of  their  attractions. 
Thus  a  vast  M'ork  remains  to  be  done  before  the  city  shall  be  purged 
of  one  of  its  principal  sources  of  demoralization. 

But,  Avith  these  acknowledged  drawbacks, — sufficient  to  stimulate 
the  zeal  of  the  Police  authorities  and  to  incite  the  friends  of  the 
Sabbath  to  ceaseless  vigilance, — enough  has  been  accomplished  to 
demonstrate  the  practicability  of  doing  all  that  is  needed  ;  and  with 
such  moral  results  as  reward  past  endeavors  and  animate  future  toils. 

Public  DrinJdng-Fountains. 

The  suggestion  in  the  Committee's  Document  on  the  Sunday  Liquor 
Traffic  of  the  humane,  sanitary  and  moral  benefits  of  Public  Drihking- 
Fountains,  was  echoed  by  the  Press ;  and  after  much  delay  and  de- 
bate, the  Common  Council  authorized  the  construction  of  fifty  free 
hydrants,  as  an  experiment,  with  a  view  to  their  general  adoption. 
It  is  believed  that  the  public  good  would  be  consulted  by  their  speedy 
introduction  in  all  j^arts  of  the  city. 

Sunday  Kews-Crying. 

The  Committee  are  happy  to  state  that  the  city  has  been  substan- 
tially free  from  the  Sunday  iiews-crying  nuisance  during  the  past 
year.  At  intervals,  the  eflbrt  has  been  made  to  revive  the  wrong, 
and  in  a  few  instances  it  has  been  perpetuated  tlirough  the  indiffer- 
ence of  citizens  and  the  neglect  of  patrolmen :  but,  as  a  city  usage,  it 
has  ceased, — it  maybe  hoped  permanently, — to  the  great  relief  of 
moral  families,  Sunday-schools,  and  churches.  Kindred  street  noises 
are  less  common  than  Avhcn  the  shrill  cries  of  news-boys  provoked  the 
ill-mannered  emulation  of  milk-men,  -bakers'-boys  and  rowdies  ;  and 
most  of  the  streets  of  the  city  have  come  to  enjoy  the  profound  quiet 
previously  unknown  for  a  generation  without  a  resort  to  country 
retreats. 

Sunday  Bands  in  Central  Park. 

Shortly  after  the  successful  efforts  of  a  few  citizens  to  provide  a 
Band  of  music  for  thousands  of  visitors  at  Central  Park  on  the  Satur- 
day afternoons  of  summer,  the  Sundny  papers  began  an  agitation  for 
the  introduction  of  Sunday  bands.  A  '•'•  derical''''  resident  of  another 
city  presented  a  Petition  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Park,  signed  by 
himself  alone,  praying  for  this  measure.  They  laid  the  petition  on  the 
table — the  respectable  Press  of  the  city  sustaining  and  approving 
their  course,  and  giving  expression  to  the  general  sentiment  of  the 
community  in  opposition  to  the  use  ofthat  beautiful  and  costly  enclo- 
sure as  a  means  of  promoting  among  us  the  holidav  Sunday  system  of 
the  Old  World. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


The  Broderic  Sunday  Pageant. 

Public  annoimcements  were  made  early  in  November  of  a  grand 
Procession  of  Firemen,  with  Banners,  Bands,  and  the  paraphernalia 
of  a  public  Pageant  on  Sunday,  in  honor  of  Senator  Broderic,  for- 
merly a  member  of  the  Department,  who  had  fallen  in  CaUfornia,  in  a 
duel  with  Chief-Justice  Terry,  Some  of  the  Daily  Journals  remon- 
strated against  such  a  needless  invasion  of  the  newly-enjoyed  Sunday 
quiet.  Preparations  being  incomplete,  the  obsequies  were  postponed  un- 
til another  Sunday.  An  inclement  day  required  further  postponement, 
and  Sunday  Nov.  20,  was  again  fixed  upon  for  the  parade.  The  Com- 
mittee deemed  this  persistent  policy  of  fixing  a  mock-burial  on  the  Sab- 
bath a  just  occasion  for  embodying  the  sentiment  of  the  orderly  com- 
munity in  defence  of  the  universal  right  of  citizens,  Christian  congre- 
gations and  Sunday-schools,  to  immunity  from  the  disturbance  of  their 
peace  and  quiet.  A  calm  and  temperate  Protest  was  drawn  up, 
which  soon  received  550  signatures,  and  all  our  leading  journals  gave 
it  publicity.  Copies  were  also  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Foremen  of 
all  the  companies  in  the  Department.  The  Pageant,  which  promised 
to  call  out  the  strength  of  a  Department  numbering  some  4,000 
men—"  Sixty  companies"  were  advertised  to  appear — proved  to 
number  just  541  persons,  musicians  and  "  the  public  generally"  in- 
cluded ;  about  300  of  the  whole  number  wearing  the  badge  of  Fire- 
men— and  of  these  a  considerable  part  were  from  Staten-Island,  Ho- 
boken,  etc.  It  is  hoped  that  no  like  demonstration  will  be  attemj^ted ; 
or,  if  it  is,  that  a  public  sentiment  as  healthful  and  vigorous  as  that 
which  frowned  the  Broderic  Pageant  out  of  its  formidable  propor- 
tions, will  find  as  earnest  an  expression  as  now. 

The  Protest  of  citizens  and  the  comments  of  the  Press,  with  the 
facts  and  incidents  of  the  occasion,  were  embodied  in  Document  No. 
10,  and  in  addition  to  other  circulation,  copies  were  forv/arded  to  each 
Fire  Engine,  Hose  and  Hook  and  Ladder  company  for  their  several 
members  to  the'  number  of  about  4000.  The  Document  acknowl- 
edges the  good  conduct  of  the  Department  as  a  whole,  in  refraining 
from  participation  in  a  Pageant  so  oflensively  invading  the  feelings 
and  the  rights  of  our  citizens. 

Labors  Among  the  G-ermans. 

A  lay  missionary  has  continued  his  labors  among  the  German  immi- 
grants during  the  year.  His  monthly  reports  are  too  extended  for 
this  document.  They  reveal  the  sentiment  existing  among  this  inter- 
esting popuhition  on  the  Sabbath  question  ;  furnish  information  as  to 
the  manner  and  extent  of  Sabbath  desecration  ;  and  afford  evidence 
of  the  fidelity  and  success  of  the  missionary  in  his  visits,  and  in  the 
distribution  of  tracts,  documents  and  papers.  Besides  completing 
the  distribution  of  4,000  copies  of  Gossner's  book — The  Loi-d's  Day 
the  King  of  Days — 10,000  copies  of  a  single  number  of  the  Amerika- 
nischer Botschcifter  (the  German  paper  of  the  American  Tract  Society) 


10  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

containing  able  articles  on  the  Sabbatli,  and  explaining  the  objects  of 
this  coniniittee,  were  circiilated  gratuitously  through  the  agencies  of 
the  City  Tract  Mission,  and  by  the  labors  of  our  Missionary.  Not 
far  from  8,000  copies  of  documents  Nos.  8  and  9  (24  pp.  8vü.  eacli) 
in  the  German  language  have  also  been  distributed,  with  very  general 
acceptance  and  usefulness. 

The  progress  of  the  movement  among  the  Germans,  and  the  pre- 
sentaticn  of  the  memciials  on  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  to  the  Police 
Board,  caused  a  violent  assault  of  the  German  Daily  Press  on  the 
Sabbath  Committee,  on  our  Sunday  Laws,  on  the  Christian  Sabbath, 
and  on  the  religion  of  the  Bible.  The  latent  infidelity  and  atheism 
of  these  foreign  Journals  seem  to  have  found  their  occasion  for  utter- 
ance, stimulated  by  the  leadership  of  certain  American  Sunday 
Papers,  and  by  the  pretended  zeal  in  certain  quarters  for  "  civil  and 
religious  liberty."  Perhaps  the  trust  to  concealment  for  atheistic  and 
treasonable  sentiments  in  the  general  ignorance  of  the  German  tongue 
among  our  native-born  citizens,  and  in  the  fact  that  there  is  no 
daily  German  Journal  friendly  to  the  Sabbath  and  to  (Christianity 
through  whose  columns  their  errors  of  fact  and  of  principle  might  be 
corrected,  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  the  incautious  and 
slanderous  dealing  of  these  newspapers  with  the  "  Sunday-fanatics," 
who  had  ventured  to  question  the  right  of  a  set  of  refugees  to  under- 
mine the  institutions  that  sheltered  them.  However  this  may  be, 
the  secular  journals  of  this  city  did  themselves  great  honor,  and  the 
public  a  lasting  service,  by  refuting  the  errors  and  exposing  the  licen- 
tiousness of  these  advocates  or  apologists  for  Sunday  dissipation  and 
folly.  And  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  the  more  decent  and  widely  cir- 
culated of  these  German  papers  have  since  become  more  chary  of 
their  scepticism,  and  more  courteous  in  their  bearing. 

Volks-Garden  Anti-Sunday  Meeting. 

Among  the  measures  for  resisting  the  enforcement  of  the  Laws 
against  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  "  a  mass  meeting  of  the  friends  of 
Civil  and  Religious  Liberty,"  German  and  English,  was  planned  forthe 
evening  of  Sept.  13,  in  the  large  theatre  and  drinking  saloon,  known 
as  Volks- Garden^  in  the  Bowery.  The  editorial  cohunns  of  one  of 
our  most  Avidely  circulated  Daily  Journals,  and  of  other  Sunday 
papers,  English  and  German,  were  occupied  for  a  month  or  two  by 
appeals  to  the  prejudices  and  passions  of  their  readers,  to  rally  on 
this  grand  occasion  "  against  the  Pharisaical,  straight-laced.  Puritani- 
cal hypocrites,  who  would  turn  Sunday  into  a  day  of  moping,  and 
compel  every  one  by  statute  to  Avear  a  long  face  on  that  day  of  rest." 
But  not  one  in  a  hundred  of  their  readers  believed  a  word  of  these 
insane  ravings.  As  a  result,  the  number  of  peo})le  gathered  at  the 
Volks-Garden,  to  drink  lager  and  listen  to  infidelity,  was  somewhat 
larger  than  the  usual  week-evening  assemblies;  but  not  half  as  large 
as  that  to  be  found  in  the  same  theatre  every  Sunday  night  to 
"pledge  their  fortunes,  lives  and  sacred"  lager  to  the  same  sort  of 
"  Civil  and  Religious  Libertv." 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM,  11 

Perhaps  no  single  event  of  the  past  year  has  contributed  more 
directly  to  advance  the  real  and  only  objects  of  the  Sabbath  Com- 
mittee than  that  thus  briefly  recorded.  It  revealed  the  true  nature 
and  strength  of  the  oj^position  to  their  eflbrts,  and  the  powerlessness 
of  a  journalism  that  puts  at  defiance  the  decencies  of  common  moral- 
ity and  perverts  every  principle  of  truth.  It  demonstrated  the  infidel 
and  atheistic  tendencies  of  the  Anti-Sunday  crusade,  and  the  hypoc- 
risy of  the  claim  that  the  daily  contemners  of  ICvW  ave  the  special 
guardians  of  "  civil  and  religious  liberty."  It  awakened  the  friends  of 
the  Sabbath  to  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  an  element  in  our  society 
imbued  with  the  foulest  errors  of  "  Red  Republicanism,"  allied  with 
the  vilest  system  of  popular  demoralization.  And  it  carried  disgust 
and  alarm  to  tens  of  thousands  of  respectable  Germans — who  thus 
became  impressed  with  the  inseparable  connection,  in  this  country  at 
least,  of  Sabbath  profanations  with  vulgarity,  deceit,  and  numberless 
vices.  It  is  not  the  first  instance  in  which  "  the  wrath  of  man"  has 
been  overruled  to  the  Divine  Praise. 


Cooper  Institute  Meeting  of  G-ermans. 

The  wounded  feeling  of  self-respect,  and  a  growing  interest  in 
Sabbath  observance,  prompted  our  German  fellow-citizens  to  hold  a 
public  meeting  in  behalf  of  the  Sabbath — the  first  ever  held  by  Ger- 
mans, so  f;\r  as  known,  for  that  specific  object.  The  large  hall  of 
Cooper  Institute  was  filled  at  an  early  hour  of  Sunday  evening,  Octo- 
ber 16,  by  a  respectable  and  orderly  body  of  Germans — at  least  1,500 
in  number.  The  platform  was  occupied  by  many  prominent  American 
clergymen  and  laymen,  and  by  German  pastors  and  people.  A  highly 
esteemed  German  merchant  presided  :  he  has  since  been  elected  a 
member  of  the  Committee.  After  reading  the  Scriptures  and 
Prayer  by  an  excellent  Lutheran  pastor,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Guldin,  for 
seventeen  years  pastor  of  the  German  church  in  Houston  street,  made 
a  brief  and  earnest  address.  A  noble  Sabbath  Hymn  of  Tholuck's 
was  sung,  as  no  Hymn  can  be  sung  but  by  a  congregation  of  Germans. 
The  Rev.  Prof  Dr.  Schaff,  of  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  delivered  a  masterly 
speech  on  the  physical,  moral,  and  religious  claims  and  benefits  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath — alternating  from  the  German  to  the  English  as 
his  remarks  drifted  in  their  application  toward  the  one  or  other 
nationality.  The  Rev.  Drs.  Adams,  Hitchcock,  and  Spring  made 
brief  addresses  in  English  during  the  exercises.  A  series  of  short 
Resolutions  was  passed  unanimously — the  whole  congregation  rising — 
attesting  tlieir  regard  for  the  American  Sabbath;  disavowing  the 
opinions  and  practices  of  some  of  their  countrymen  as  "  bringing 
dishonor  to  the  German  name ;"  and  expressing  the  conviction  that 
"  the  Sabbath  Laws  in  this  country  are  among  the  strongest  guaran- 
tees of  our  free  institutions ;  a  wholesome  check  upon  licentiousness 
and  dissipation,  and  a  preventive  of  the  jiauperism  and  crime 
which  must  necessarily  undermine  and  ultimately  destroy  the  liberty 
of  any  people."    The  Editor  of  the  JSFeio  York  Observer^  who  was  on 


12  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

the  platform,  in  liis  sketch  of  the  occasion,  wrote  :  "  We  do  not  recol- 
lect ever  attending  a  better  meeting.  The  assembly  was  ahnost 
exclusively  German  :  well-dressed,  good-looking,  respectable  men  and 
women ;  men  who  are  able  to  serve  the  State  as  good  citizens,  and 
whose  presence  is  a  blessing,  not  a  curse,  to  the  community." 

The  Committee  deemed  this  demonstration  so  important  as  to 
warrant  the  publication  of  its  proceedings  in  j^amphlet  form  for 
popular  circulation  in  this  country  and  in  Germany.  The  principal 
speeches  of  the  occasion  were  kindly  Ma-itten  out  in  full  by  their  au- 
thors, at  the  Committee's  request,  and  a  Document  (No.  0)  of  great 
practical  value  has  thus  been  prepared  in  the  German  language,  of 
which  six  thousand  copies  have  been  printed  and  mostly  circulated. 
Of  these,  with  the  jjrevious  Document  (No.  8),  seven  hundred  copies 
have  been  sent  to  a  friend  at  Hamburg,  there  to  be  posted  to  the 
leading  scholars  and  men  of  influence  in  the  Fatherland.  For  the 
sake  of  reaching  the  German  population  in  other  parts  of  this  country 
with  this  powerful  plea  tor  the  Sabbath,  the  American  Tract  Society 
have  approved  it  for  circulation  by  their  colporters,  and  an  e<lition  of 
four  thousand  has  already  been  printed  by  that  society  for  this  pur- 
pose. It  is  hoped  that  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  in  other  cities  will 
adopt  measures  for  placing  this  document  in  the  hands  of  their  Ger- 
man fellow-citizens. 

The  influence  of  the  meeting  thus  sketched  is  believed  to  have 
been  wide-spread  and  most  happy.  It  demonstrated  to  the  German 
community  itself  the  existence  of  a  powerful  element,  composed  of  all 
Christian  denominations,  intelligently  opposed  to  the  abuses  of  the 
Sabbath  on  the  part  of  many  of  their  countrymen.  It  presented  a 
new  and  encouraging  aspect  of  tlie  German  j^opulation  befoi-e  the 
American  Christian  community,  and  tended  to  draw  closer  the  bonds 
of  brotherhood  between  the  pastors  and  people  of  the  mingled  Teu- 
tonic and  Saxon  races  among  us.  It  furnished  occasion  and  material 
for  discussion  on  the  part  of  the  German  Press  and  Pulpit — and  the 
occasion  has  not  been  misimproved.  It  gave  the  daily  German  papers 
to  understand  that  their  constituency  were  not  all  of  the  Anti-Sunday 
stripe,  and  that  German  public  sentiment  was  not  altogcthei-  in  sym- 
pathy with  their  Anti-American  and  Anti-Christian  diatribes.  It 
blighted  the  schemes  of  intriguing  politicians,  some  of  whom  were 
calculating  the  chances  of  gaining  the  German  vote  by  pandering  to 
German  vices  ; — for  it  indicated  that  possibly  as  much  might  be  lost 
as  won  by  dragging  into  the  political  arena  a  vital  question  of  morals 
and  religion,  of  common  concern  to  men  of  all  parties.  And  it  pro- 
vided the  means  of  disabusing  the  minds  of  Cliristian  scholars  in 
Germany  as  to  the  supposed  demoralization  of  emigrants  to  America: 
possibly,  under  the  divine  blessing,  it  may  result  in  awakening  good 
men  in  Germany  itself  to  the  necessity  of  reviving  the  Sabbath  ques- 
tion there. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  IS 


German  Theatres,  "Sacred  Concerts,"  and 
B  eer-G-ar  dens. 

In  the  issue  made  with  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  some  of  the 
iniquities  of  the  Sunday  Beer-Garden  system  were  exposed,  and  it 
was  hoped  that  the  suppression  of  the  principal  evil  would  involve  that 
of  its  accessory  and  supplemental  wi'ong.  It  was  found  necessary, 
however,  to  enter  on  a  new  enterprise  for  this  purpose ;  and  the 
Committee's  Document  No.  11  presents  to  the  jDublic  the  facts  and 
views  on  which  the  movement  specially  occupying  their  attention  at 
the  present  time  is  based. 

It  may  seem  incredible  to  the  mass  of  American  readers  that  scores 
of  Theatres,  "  Sacred  Concert  "-Halls,  Drinking  and  Dancing  Saloons, 
and  Gambling  houses — often  combined  under  the  same  roof — should 
be  publicly  advertised  in  Sunday  morning  papers,  and  their  perform- 
ances held  on  the  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day 
— commonly  in  the  evening — every  Sunday  in  the  year,  under  the 
eye  of  the  Police,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  civilized,  church-going,  and 
Sabbath-keeping  population!  Yet,  all  this  is  startlingly  true.  Nor 
does  it  abate  aught  from  the  evil  or  the  danger  that  it  is  concealed  fi-om 
the  public  gaze  under  a  Teutonic  guise.  The  20,000  or  .30,000  fre- 
quenters of  these  Sunday  temples  of  Bacchus,  Terpsichore,  and  Venus, 
though  they  mostly  employ  a  foreign  tongue,  form  an  integral  part  of 
our  po])ulation,  and  contribute  their  quota  of  influence  to  our  n^uni- 
cipal  character  and  moral  standing  :  perhaps  moi-e  than  their  quota 
to  demoralize  and  degrade  our  political  institutions  ;  Avhile  they  help 
to  swell  tlie  ranks  of  our  Pauper  Army,  to  crowd  our  Prisons,  and  to 
distend  the  annual  Tax  levy.  The  argument  for  the  suppression  of 
this  base  system  of  Sunday  profanation  would  seem  to  address  itself 
to  every  element  of  self-respect,  self-preservation,  and  true  patriotism ; 
a.s  well  as  to  the  higlier  principles  of  benevolence,  morality  and  relig- 
ion.     It  may  he  condensed  thus  : 

1.  A  quiet  Sabbath,  free  fi-om  noisy  interruption  and  from  demoral- 
izing temptations,  is  a  prescriptive,  inalienable  right  of  every  Ameri- 
can citizen  :  the  system  of  German  Sunday  Beer-gardens  invades  this 
right :  it  should  be  abated. 

2.  Our  free  institutions  are  based  on  the  theory  of  popular  morality 
and  A'irtue  :  this  system  tends  to  materialize,  deprave  and  imbrute 
the  people  :  it  should  be  suppressed. 

3.  All  tliat  our  immigrant  population  can  claim  of  us  is  the  measure 
of  liberty  consistent  with  the  perpetuity  and  healthful  working  of  our 
institutions  ;  the  measure  meted  out  to  ourselves  :  but  by  immemorial 
custom  and  law,  we  have  denied  ourselves  such  indulgences  as  are 
involved  in  this  system  of  Sunday  revelries  :  we  cannot  grant  them  to 
others  without  a  sacrifice  of  principle  inconsistent  with  duty  or  safety. 

4.  Even  if  the  system  worked  no  vital  ill  to  the  population  support- 
ing it,  its  profitableness,  and  its  varied  adaptations  to  vulgar  and 
debasing  appetites,  will  tempt  American  panderers  to  adopt  it,  and 


14  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

native-born  rowdyism  to  patronize  it :  so  that  a  foreign  vice,  or  com- 
plication of  vices,  will  be  added  to  the  many  forms  of  domestic 
demoralization.  Already  there  are  numerous  establishnjents  of  a 
similar  character  flaunting  their  sinful  attractions  in  our  most  fre- 
quented thoroughfores — several  on  the  first  floors  of  Broadway  itself — 
with  all  the  concomitants  of  music,  dancing,  singing,  acting,  and 
drinking— and  the  super-added  fascination  of  women  of  the  town  by 
dozens  as  attendants  and  waiters.  Hundreds  of  apprentices,  country 
youth,  and  debauchees  of  riper  years,  throng  these  places  every 
Sunday  night.  Nay,  their  proprietors  do  not  scruple  to  advertise 
among  their  principal  attractions — "The  most  charming  Lady  Vocalists 
and  Dancers,  introducing  fifty  distinct  acts,  by  forty  performers  ;" 
and  "  boasting  the  prettiest  waiter  girls,  handsomest  young  ladies, 
the  most  attentive,  polite,  and  prepossessing  of  any  in  the  city, 
Sunday  Evening — open  at  7 — close  at  13." 

It  becomes  then  a  question  of  self-preservation.  As  such  we  meet 
it.  Every  employer  has  an  interest  in  it.  Every  parent  is  concerned 
in  its  settlement.  Every  citizen,  if  not  indifierent  to  the  influences 
that  are  coming  in  to  mould  our  character  and  destiny  as  a  people, 
must  see  that  longer  neglect  of  an  insidious  and  seductive  system  of 
unmixed  evil  may  leave  that  system,  with  all  its  sensuality  and  its 
corruption,  to  l)ecome  quietly  naturalized  and  domesticated  on  our 
soil.  And  surely,  every  Christian — with  his  eye  on  the  spii-itual  and 
eternal  bearings  of  this  skillful  device  of  Satan  to  counteract  the 
benign  influences  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  sanctuary,  and  to  draw  away 
from  elevating,  saving  agencies  the  very  classes  most  needing  instruc- 
tion and  restraint — would  be  false  to  every  conviction  of  duty,  and 
every  impulse  of  benevolence,  did  he  not  resist  by  all  legitimate 
means  these  soul-destroying  tendencies,  whether  afliecting  our  o\nx 
population  or  that  of  foreign  birth. 

But  the  Committee  would  refer  the  reader  to  the  Document  (No. 
11)  on  "Sunday  Theatres,  'Sacred  Concerts,'  and  Beer-Gardens" 
itself  for  their  views  at  length  respecting  the  evil  under  consideration. 
The  further  measures  proposed  for  the  consummation  of  this  lleform 
will  be  taken  deliberately,  and  with  the  Divine  f  ivor  and  the  manly 
cooperation  of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath,  it  is  believed  that  they  will 
be  successful. 

The  Documents  of  tlie  Committee. 

The  more  important  of  the  Documents  issued  during  the  pnst  year 
have  been  incidentally  alluded  to  in  the  previous  pages.  They  are 
designed  to  be  calm,  clear,  candid  expositions  of  the  several  subjects 
under  discussion — avoiding  all  exaggeration  or  appeals  to  prejudice  or 
passion — and  aiming  to  lay  foundations  in  popular  conviction  and 
Christian  principle  for  the  several  Reforms  attempted.  They  are 
intended  to  influence  clergymen,  editors,  public  oflicers,  and  reflecting 
men  in  every  sphere  of  influence  ;  and  to  furnish  mateiialsof  fvct  and 
argument  for  moulding  a  right  public  sentiment  on  a  question  of  no 
trifling  moment.     Tlieir  reception  by  the  Press  and  the  public  has 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  15 

afforded  gratification  and  encouragement  to  the  Committee.  In  all 
the  discussions  to  which  they  have  given  rise,  it  is  a  pleasing  fact  that 
no  statement  has  been  called  in  question  and  no  position  refuted. 
The  opposition  has  been  directed  against  issues  the  Committee  have 
not  made,  and  against  theories  the  Committee  have  not  advanced. 
Indeed,  there  has  been  no  alternative,  thus  flxr,  for  right-minded  men, 
but  the  ground  of  open  infidelity  and  immorality,  or  the  support  of 
measures  demonstrably  needful  for  the  jJ^blic  peace  and  the  conser- 
vation of  public  morals. 

The  Committee  have  considered  it  a  wise  economy  to  extend  the 
circulation  of  these  Documents  among  our  citizens,  and  to  some 
extent  among  men  of  influence  in  other  parts  of  the  land.  Some 
thousands  of  each  have  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  individuals  at  their 
residences,  as  soon  as  issued,  and  have  been  forwarded  to  the  Press  in 
all  parts  of  the  country.  The  Police  and  Fire  Departments  have 
been  supplied  with  important  documents,  as  occasion  required.  The 
Legislatures  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  have  been  furnished  with 
copies  for  the  members  of  each.  Orders  from  the  country  for  the 
Committee's  publications,  both  in  German  and  English,  are  increasing. 
Three  thousand  copies  of  the  series  have  been  ordered  from  Cincin- 
nati, and  500  copies  of  No.  9  (German)  from  Baltimore.  The  whole 
number  printed  during  the  year  has  been  43,575,  including  10,000  in 
the  German  language;  and  the  circulation  has  been  somewhat  greater, 
including  an  edition  of  "Railroads  and  the  Sabbath,"  (No.  2,)  pre- 
viously printed. 


Cooperation  of  the  Periodical  Press. 

The  Committee  gratefully  acknowledge  their  indebtedness,  and 
that  of  the  christian  community,  to  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Newspa- 
per Press  of  this  city,  for  the  unwaveiing  support  it  has  given  to  the 
various  measures  undertaken  in  behalf  of  the  better  obserA'ance  of 
the  Sabbath.  Rising  above  the  atmosphere  of  party,  sect,  and  self, 
nearly  all  tlie  respectable  journals  have  contributed  their  influence  to 
form  and  foster  a  just  public  sentiment  as  to  the  value  of  the  Christ- 
ian Sabbath,  and  the  danger  to  all  the  great  interests  of  the  individ- 
ual and  of  society  of  perverting  its  objects  so  as  to  make  it  a  day  of 
noise^  parade,  or  dissipation.  Some  of  the  Editorial  utterances  in  sec- 
ular journals  have  been  of  so  high  an  order  of  excellence  in  senti- 
ment and  ability  as  to  have  excited  general  remark.  And  the  whole 
discussion  on  the  side  of  the  Sabbath  has  been  so  courteous  and  dis- 
criminating— notwithstanding  many  provocations  to  embittered  con- 
troversy— as  to  disarm  prejudice,  and  confound  op])osition.  It  is 
not  the  least  of  the  occasions  of  gratitude  that  the  Committee  have 
been  so  guided  from  above  in  their  labors  as  to  have  commended 
their  measures  to  the  confidence  and  support  of  those  who  wield  the 
most  powerful  moral  agency,  for  good  or  ill,  known  to  the  world. 

For  important  reasons,  the  current  newspaper  articles  and  items 
beai'ing  on  the  Sabbath  question  have  been  preserved  and  classified 


16  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

in  the  office  of  the  Committee.  It  appears  that  the  aggregate  circu- 
lation of  copies  of  newspapers,  Secular  and  Religious,  containing 
articles  friendly  to  the  Sabbath  or  bearing  on  the  discussion — taking 
the  known  or  estimated  circulation  of  each  journal  as  the  basis  of  the 
calculation,  has  amounted  during  the  year  1859  to  more  than  ticenty- 
four  millions  (24,098,000) — exceeding  the  amount  of  the  previous 
year  by  about  nine  million  copies.  And  so  far  as  the  Committee  have 
observed,  there  is  scarce  a  line  of  this  matter  that  they  or  the 
Editors 

— "dying  need  wish  to  blot." 

The  more  permanent  Periodical  Literature  of  the  country  is  inte- 
resting itself  increasingly  in  the  discussion  of  the  Sabbath  Question. 
The  Biblical  Repository  and  Princeton  Review  for  October  contained 
an  elaborate  and  exhaustive  article  on  "  Sunday  Laws,"  from  the  pen 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge,  which  has  been  republished  for  wide  circula- 
tion in  this  country  and  in  England  ;  and  several  of  our  Magazines 
have  treated  the  subject  with  ability.  An  article  in"  The  Examiner," 
understood  to  be  from  the  gifted  pen  of  the  Rev.  W.  R.Williams,  D.  D., 
on  the  Civil  Relations  of  the  Sabbath,  and  will  reward  a  careful  perusal. 
An  edition  of  2,000  has  been  published  by  the  Committee  as  No.  1 
of  "  Sabbath  Leaflets;'  4  pp.,  8vo. 

Opposition  of  the  Sunday  Press. 

We  regret  the  necessity  of  alluding  to  the  course  pursued  by  a 
portion  of  the  Sunday  Press,  in  such  marked  contrast  with  that  of 
the  journals  just  noticed.  Making  all  allowance  for  the  real  or 
imaginary  interference  with  tlieir  profits  by  the  suppression  of  the 
new's-crying  nuisance  ;  the  partial  closing  of  the  Dram-shops ;  and 
the  o-rowing  conviction  in  the  pul)lic  mind  that  some  other  literature 
is  m^re  suilable  for  the  Lord's  day  than  that  from  Sabbath-hating 
sources  :  still  it  would  seem  that  sell-respect  and^  ordinary  prudence 
might  have  restrained  many  of  the  false,  sophistical,  and  even  libel- 
Ion's  utterances  with  which  Bally  and  Weekly  issues  have  literally 
groaned.  If  it  was  the  purpose  of  these  journals  to  frighten  the 
Committee  from  their  course  of  public  duty,  they  misapprehended 
its  composition.  If  the  object  M-as  to  overawe  our  Police  authorities, 
it  was  attempted  at  an  unfortunate  juncture.  If  it  was  the  design  to 
bewilder  the  pubhc  by  the  multiplication  of  false  issues,_or  to  draw 
the  Committee  away  from  a  carefully  chosen  position  into  general 
and  fruitless  controversy,  it  was  thwarted  by  the  distinctness  of  the 
issues  before  the  public  and  the  steadiness  with  which  they  have  been 
adhered  to.  And  if  political  and  personal  ends  had  something  to  do 
with  the  atheistic  and  futile  measures  at  the  Volks-Garden  meeting, 
and  with  the  editorial  gasconade  preceding  and  following  that  mem- 
orable movement — Avhich  we  would  not  assert — their  uttei-_  failure 
may  be  taken  as  a  popular  verdict  against  employing  infidelity  and 
immorality  and  selfishness  as  political  hobbies. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  17 

The  Committee  have  deemed  it  inconsistent  with  self-respect  to 
notice  any  of  the  hiuidi*eds  of  abusive  newspaper  articles  that  have 
made  their  appearance  ;  and  they  are  grateful  to  the  decent  press  for 
suffering  them  to  pass  without  rejoinder.  Such  articles  do  more 
harm  to  their  authors  and  to  the  bad  cause  they  advocate  than  to 
those  sacred  interests  against  which  they  are  directed.  There  are 
only  two  points  in  them  all  to  which  a  word  of  reply  seems  called 
for: 

The  first  point  relates  to  the  constitutionality  of  our  Sunday  Laxos. 

To  the  hundreds  of  diatribes  on  this  subject  our  only  reply  is — 
that  their  readers  have  in  no  instance  been  truly  informed  what  those 
laws  are,  nor  what  the  Constitution  is.  xV  fair  statement  of  either  or 
of  both  would  have  exploded  every  argument  yet  presented.  Thus  : 
the  only  clause  of  the  Constitution  quoted  in  justification  of  Dram- 
selling  and  other  immoralities  on  Sunday  has  been  the  following : 
"The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  religioiis  profession  and  worship, 
without  discrimination  or  preference,  shall  forever  be  allowed  in  this 
State  to  all  mankind  ;"  and  there  the  sophists  have  stopped,  while  the 
Constitution  proceeds : 

'■'■JBut  the  liberty  of  conscience  hereby  secured  shall  not  be  so  con- 
strued as  to  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness  (excesses  of  liberty)  or  jus- 
tify loractices  inconsistent  tcith  the  peace  and  safety  of  this  State.'''' 
And  that  is  the  very  thing  these  apologists  for  lawlessness  and  crime 
and  pauper-breeding  have  been  doing  in  this  whole  discussion. 

3Iorality  of  the  Sabbath. 

The  second  point  relates  to  the  morality  of  the  Sabbath.  It  has 
been  asserted  for  the  hundredth  time  that  the  strict  observance  of 
the  Sabbath  "  has  been  most  unfavorabln  to  morality.,  and  has  driven 
thousands  into  infidelity  and  irreligion,  and  into  every  irice  and 
crime?''  "Experience  has  proved  that  Sabbatarian  despotism  so  far 
from  preventing  vice  and  crime,  has  the  contrary  tendency,"  it  is  said, 
and  "  England,  Scotland  and  the  United  States"  are  cited  in  illustra- 
tion of  "the  immense  moral  as  well  as  physical  evils"  flowing  from 
the  sacred  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day:  while  France,  Germany 
and  Italy  are  referred  to  as  showing  the  beneficent  moral  influence  of 
the  no-Sunday  or  the  holiday-Sunday  principle  !  The  bare  statement 
of  the  proposition  is  a  sufiicient  refutation  to  a  mind  retaining  some 
reverence  for  the  divine  administration,  and  ordinarily  informed  as  to 
the  moral  condition  of  the  world.  We  think  a  few  statements  will 
make  the  matter  plain, 

1.  The  Statistics  of  Crime  demonstrate  the  intimate  connection 
between  Sabbath  desecration.,  intemperance.,  and  vice.  Thus,  it  ap- 
pears from  the  Report  of  the  Metropolitan  Police  Commissioners 
that  of  the  61,445  arrests  in  1858,  only  11,520,  including  "colored," 
were  natives  of  the  United  States — or  about  17  per  cent,  of  the 
whole.  But  the  foreign-born  population  does  not  exceed  about  one- 
third  of  the  aggregate  as  given  by  the  census  of  '55.  If,  however, 
one  third  of  our  population,  and  that  the  Sabbath-breaking  third, 
2 


18  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

furnish  83  per  cent,  of  our  criminals,  and  a  larger  proportion  of  our 
paupers,  while  the  native.  Sabbath-keeping  two  thirds  furnish  but 
17  per  cent,  of  the  whole — and  that  from  its  churchless,  Sabbathless 
part — how  can  the  inference  be  avoided  that  crime,  pauperism  and 
Sabbath  desecration  are  inseparably  associated  ? 

The  statistics  of  other  cities  and  countries  compel  the  same  conclu- 
sion. The  British  House  of  Commons  summoned  before  a  Commit- 
tee a  great  number  of  officers  of  Prisons,  Criminal  Justices,  and 
Chaplains,  whose  testimony  was  substantially  concurrent  witli  that  of 
one  twenty-eight  years  connected  with  prisons,  and  who  had  had  the 
care  of  more  than  100,000  prisoners,  to  the  effect :  "  that  in  nineteen 
cases  out  of  twenty,  they  are  persons  who  have  not  only  neglected 
the  Sabbath,  but  all  other  ordinances  of  religion  :"  and  adding  his 
"  conviction  that  Sabbath-breaking  is  not  only  a  great  national  evil, 
but  a  fruitful  source  of  immorality  among  all  classes,  and  preeminent- 
ly of  profligacy  and  crime  among  the  lower  orders."  He  further 
states  :  "  I  do  not  recollect  a  single  case  of  capital  offence  where  the 
party  has  not  been  a  Sabbath-breaker  ;  and  in  many  cases  they  have 
assured  me  that  Sabbath-breaking  was  the  first  step  in  the  course  of 
crime." 

But  2.  Successful  efforts  for  the  pro})er  observance  of  the  Sabbath 
invariably  diminish  crime.  The  result  of  the  "  Forbes  McKenzie 
Act "  in  Scotland  is  in  point  here.  In  all  parts  of  Scotland,  the 
moral  condition  of  the  people  has  improved  in  the  ratio  of  the  fidel- 
ity with  which  this  law  for  suppressing  Sunday  sales  of  liquors  has 
been  enforced  :  the  amount  of  ardent  spirits  consumed  having  been 
reduced  nearly  one  fifth  (or  $25,0.'50,.')60)  in  four  years— "-Sabbath 
drinking  having  been  annulled.,  and  the  drinking  on  loeeJc-days  hav- 
ing also  been  largely  diminished.'''' 

Even  more  marked  results  are  under  our  eyes  in  this  city.  The 
statistics  in  the  early  part  of  this  document  show  that,  in  the  lax 
state  of  Sabbath  observance  whicli  allowed  the  unrestricted  sale  of 
liquors  on  that  day,  drunkenness  and  crime  were  so  rampant  as  to 
swell  the  immense  average  of  ai-rests  on  all  days  to  the  extent  of 
twenty-five  per  cent,  on  the  Lord's  Day  above  secular  days,  and  that 
for  a  period  of  eighteen  months  :  but  that  when  a  better  sentiment 
demanded  the  enfercement  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Law,  the  average 
of  arrests  on  the  secidar  days  has  exceeded  by  about  sixty  per  cetit. 
that  for  the  Sundays,  during  a  period  of  six  months — with  a  steady 
declining  ratio  of  arrests  on  both  sacred  and  secular  days. — [See 
statistics  on  previous  page,  which  show  a  total  fiiUingoff  of  more  than 
seve?i  thoiisand  arrests  during  the  last  as  compared  with  the  preced- 
ing quarter.] 

Now,  a  book  written  thousands  of  years  ago,  may  be  misinterpre- 
ted and  its  institutions  despised;  the  laws  of  God  and  nian  may  be 
caricatured  and  violated ;  the  principles  of  connnon  morality  may  be 
ignored :  but  one  would  tliink  that  oflh-ial  statistical  records  of  our 
own  day,  in  our  own  city,  might  be  entitled  to  some  weight  with  a 
press  claiming  the  patronage  of  a  decent,  Christian  comnnniity. 
But  again,  3.   The  statistics  of  births  show  that  the  degree  of  re- 


PEOGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  19 

spect  for  the  Christian  Sabbath  is  the  measure  of  social  purity,  and 
that  Sabbath-breaking  and  licentiousness  are  intimately  associated. 
Thus  it  appears  from  the  official  return  of  the  Registrar-General  of 
Scotland,  that  while  the  proj^ortion  of  illegitimate  births  in  London 
[the  capital  of  one  of  the  countries  cited  to  sliow  that  Sabbath  ob- 
servance "has  been  most  unfavorable  to  moralit)^,  and  has  drawn 
thousands  into  every  vice  and  crime  !"]  is  four  (4)  per  cent.,  it  is 
thirty  two  (32)  in  Milan  ;  thirty-three  (33)  in  Paris  ;  thirty-five  (35)  in 
Brussels;  forty-eight  (48)  in  Munich;  mn\.  fifty-07ie  (51)  in  Vienna! 
"These  figures  are  astounding,"  says  the  Review  we  quote.  "They 
seem  almost  invented  for  a  purpose.  And  yet  they  are  official  and 
governmental  returns,  as  certain  and  authoritative  as  such  records 
can  be." 

Thus  assured  to  us,  they  deserve  profound  study  in  connection  with 
the  palpable  truth  that,  in  spite  of  recent  efforts  to  convert  a  London 
Sunday  into  a  godless  holiday,  the  percentage  of  proven  contempt  of 
the  Seventh  Gomynandment  in  the  several  capitals  of  Europe  named, 
is  in  appaling  coincidence  with  the  ratio  of  the  open  disregard  of  the 
Fourth  Commandment  of  the  Decalogue.  In  this  light,  these  terrific 
numerals  glare  out  upon  the  world  as  the  commentary  of  fact  and  of 
history  on  the  Eternal  Law  of  God  ;  and  they  would  seem  to  echo  in 
tliunder-tones — from  the  Old  World  to  the  New — from  kingdoms  thus- 
debased  in  their  social  morality,  because  godless  in  their  religious  fiith 
— to  a  Republic  still  clinging,  despite  all  alien  influences,  to  the  sanc- 
tities of  Home  and  the  Home-Day  :  "  Remember  the  Sabbath-day 

TO  KEEP  IT  HOLY." 


Delegation  to  Western  Cities. 

The  discussions  growing  out  of  the  Committee's  enterprises,  and 
the  success  of  their  plans,  created  some  influence  in  stimulating  ac- 
tion in  other  parts  of  the  land,  and  especially  in  western  cities.  It 
was  deemed  expedient  that  a  Delegation  should  visit  those  cities  in 
the  early  autumn,  with  the  view  of  learning  the  state  of  existing 
facts,  communicating  the  results  of  experience  in  this  city,  contrib- 
uting to  unity  of  views  and  efforts  in  a  common  cause,  and  awakening 
to  action  where  it  was  thought  proper.  After  conferring  with  friends 
of  the  Sabbath  from  various  parts  of  the  country  then  found  at  Sara- 
toga, the  Delegation  proceeded  to  Buffalo — where  they  were  happy 
to  learn  that  an  efficient  Mayor  had  mostly  subdued  the  grosser  forms 
of  Sabbath-breaking ;  thence  to  Detroit,  wdiere  everything  seemed 
ready  to  their  hand  in  an  awakened  interest,  and  where  a  Sabbath 
Committee  was  formed  at  once — as  there  was  at  Toledo  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  [and  where  an  active  Mayor  has  anticipated  the 
action  of  the  committee ;]  thence  to  Chicago,  where  the  differences 
growing  out  of  a  previous  movement  were  speedily  adjusted,  and  an 
able  committee  took  the  matter  in  hand  with  a  view  to  quiet  and  pa- 
tient effort :  thence  to  St.  Lotus,  where  a  Committee  was  already  in 


20  PROGEESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

existence,  and  a  signal  triumph  had  ah-eadybeen  achieved  (Aug.  1,)  in 
a  majority  of  2,000  against  Sunday  dram-shops  on  a  popular  vote,  and 
where  important  measures  were  in  progress  for  perpetuating  the  suc- 
cess of  the  friends  of  morality  ;  thence  to  Obicinnati,  where  a  vigor- 
ous Committee  was  formed  at  a  timely  juncture — for  a  German  Com- 
mittee was  appointed  on  the  same  evening  to  agitate  for  the  repeal  of 
all  Sunday  laws,  and  to  break  down  all  Sabbath  restraints,  though 
neither  i^reviously  kncAv  of  the  movements  of  the  other  [a  competent 
executive  officer  has  recently  been  appointed  by  the  Cincinnati  com- 
mittee] ;  and  thence  to  Pittsburgh,  at  the  very  hour  of  spontaneous 
action  of  citizens  to  arrest  some  local  invasions  of  the  Lord's  Day.  In 
all  the  cities  named,  except  Buffalo,the  Delegation  had  the.opportunity 
of  addressing  select  meetings  of  the  citizens,  and  of  conferring  at  length 
as  to  the  best  methods  of  promoting  Sabbath  observance.  In  most 
places  it  was  found  that  the  same  forms  of  iniquity  the  Committee 
have  contended  with  here  abound  there — sometimes  imported  from 
New  York  and  exaggerated  at  the  West.  Everywhere,  nearly,  the 
the  beer-garden  system  had  taken  root,  and  its  demoralizing  influence 
had  become  a  just  occasion  of  disgust  and  alarm. 

Early  in  the  year  a  Sabbath  Committee  was  formed  at  Baltimore, 
Md.,  with  whom  this  committee  has  had  personal  and  written  corres- 
pondence. A  free  supply  of  documents  has  been  made  to  the  various 
committees,  and  such  mutual  cooperation  pledged  as  may  be  hoped 
to  advance  the  great  object  contemplated  by  all. 

In  Philadelphia  the  Sunday-car  question  was  precipitated  on  the 
friends  of  the  Sabbath,  l)y  the  attempts  of  various  local  railways  to 
abandon  the  policy  of  Sabbath  intermission  in  the  running  of  their 
cars ;  and  much  excitement  and  litigation  grew  out  of  the  efl:brt  of 
public  officers  to  resist  the  innovation.  The  courts  sustained  the 
action  of  the  municipal  authorities.  An  agitation  was  begun  for  the 
repeal  of  the  Sunday  statutes  of  Pennsylvania,  with  what  success  re- 
mains to  be  seen.  In  anticipation  of  the  Legislative  discussion,  an 
officer  of  the  Senate  has  midertaken  to  place  copies  of  suitable  docu- 
ments from  the  Committee's  series  in  the  hands  of  members  of  the 
Senate  and  House. 


Th.e  Sabbath. Reform  in  Europe. 

Great  Britain. — The  two  events  most  nearly  affecting  the  Sabbath 
have  been  the  investigation  of  the  Royal  Commission  into  the  operation 
of  the  "  Forbes  Mackenzie  Act"  in  Scotland,  and  the  extension  of  the 
Revival  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The  result  of  the  inquiries  in 
Ediuburgli  and  Glasgow,  as  reported  in  the  Scottish  journals,  have 
been  "  eminently  favorable,"  as  appears  by  the  fact  that,  among  other 
things,  "the  consumption  of  ardent  spirits  has  decreased  $'25,050,560 
in  four  years,  or  nearly  a  fifth  part  of  the  whole  previous  consumption. 
Thus,  not  only  has  the  Sabbath-drinking  been  annulled,  but  the  drink- 
ing on  week-days  has  also  been  largely  diminished."     A  recent  procla- 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  21 

mation  has  been  issued  by  the  Town  Council  of  Edinburgli,  warning 
those  who  persisted  in  illegal  Sunday  trading — "  488  shops  having 
been  reported  as  carrying  on  traffic  in  the  city  and  suburbs" — that 
the  laws  would  be  strictly  enforced. 

The  statements  of  the  delegation  to  this  country  concur  with  the 
printed  reports  of  the  remarkable  work  of  grace  in  Ireland,  that  one 
of  its  most  palpable  fruits  has  been  the  better  observance  of  the 
Lord's  Day,  and  the  decrease  in  drunkenness  and  immoralities  of  every 
kind.  Similar  results  are  noticed  in  Wales,  and  wherever  the  con- 
verting power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  has  been  displayed.  So  tliat,  as  in 
this  country,  and  in  all  countries  and  all  ages,  a  revived  and  spiritual 
Christianity  and  a  sacred  regard  for  the  Day  of  Religion  are  indis- 
solubly  associated  in  the  experience  of  the  church,  as  they  are  in  the 
Book  of  God, 

A  Royal  Example. — A  pleasing  incident  is  recorded  of  Prince 
Alfred,  the  second  prince  of  England,  connected  with  his  late  visit  at 
Athens,  Greece.  "It  may  allay  any  fears  that  have  been  enter- 
tained," says  the  correspondent  of  the  N.  Y.  Times,  "  lest  the  young 
Prince  should  prove  to  have  been  injured  by  his  tour  through  Europe, 
and  spoiled  by  the  adulation  he  has  received  everywhere,  and  not 
least  of  all  in  the  '  Eternal  City.'  The  celebration  of  the  Olympic 
Games  (revived  in  December  last,  for  the  first  time  since  the  days  of 
their  suppression  through  the  influence  of  Christianity,)  happened  to 
be  under  way  at  the  very  moment  when  the  Prince  reached  Atliens. 
Hearing  of  his  expected  arrival,  the  Committee  of  management  de- 
ferred the  horse-race  in  the  hippodrome — one  of  the  most  important 
parts  of  the  festive  occasion — from  Monday  until  the  succeeding 
Sunday,  so  that  he  might  grace  it  with  his  presence.  "  But  the  son 
of  the  Queen  of  England  had  received  a  diiFerent  education  from  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Committee,  and  answered  positively  and  emphati- 
cally, that  he  could  not  be  present  at  the  race  on  the  holy  day  of  the 
Lord;  and  the  Committee  postponed  it  anew  until  tlie  next  Tuesday, 
when  it  took  place." 

France. — It  is  a  somewhat  curious  fact  that  the  only  newspaper  in 
the  world  specifically  devoted  to  the  promotion  of  Sabbath  observ- 
ance— the  Observateur  du  Dimanche — is  published  in  Paris,  and  is  the 
organ  of  an  Association  numbering  some  4,000  members  in  that  city. 
"  New  associations,"  says  the  Observateur,  "  some  of  them  embrac- 
ing entire  dioceses,  have  of  late  requested  to  join  us ;  the  major  part 
of  those  uniting  with  us  during  the  past  two  years  have  not  confined 
themselves  to  the  simple  observance  of  Sunday  as  a  day  of  rest,  but 
have  endeavored  to  keep  it  holy.  The  number  of  shops  which  close 
on  Sunday  has  more  than  trebled  during  the  last  two  years.  Every- 
thing that  leads  people's  hearts  and  minds  to  God,  will  more  and 
more  secure  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath ;  and  on  the  day  when 
all  Frenchmen  shall  have  become  fervent  Catholics,  the  Observateur 
will  have  completed  its  task." 

Switzerland. — Increased  interest  has  been  awakened  in  Sabbath 
observance  in  various  cantons.       A  private  letter  from  the  KrCV.  Dr. 


22  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

Prentiss,  late  of  this  city,  written  at  Vevey,  Dec.  1,  contains  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph : 

"  I  have  just  returued  from  a  three  weeks'  excursion  to  Germany.  On  my  way 
back,  I  spent  Sunday  at  Neuchatel  in  order  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  Rev. 
F.  Codet,  to  whom  Profs.  Guyot  and  Tholuck  had  given  me  letters.  Mr.  G.  is 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  pastors  in  French  Switzerland  ;  he  is  an  old  Ber- 
lin friend  of  Prof. ,  and  now  a  principal  tutor  to  the  present  crown  prince 

of  Prussia.  I  called  upon  him  on  Saturday  evenhig,  and  found  him  full  of  a 
meeting  for  the  better  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  which  was  to  be  held 
the  next  day  at  the  close  of  the  afternoon  service.  He  informed  me  that  about  a 
year  ago  an  Association  had  been  formed  for  the  sanctification  of  the  Lord's  day ; 
and  that  already  it  had  borne  most  excellent  fruits.  He  was  eager  to  get  infor- 
mation on  the  subject,  and  specially  delighted  to  hear  of  the  meeting  of  Germans 
at  the  Cooper  Institute,  of  which  I  chanced  to  have  an  account  with  me.  I  at- 
tended the  meeting  on  Sunday  afternoon.  In  spite  of  inclement  weather,  the 
chapel  in  which  it  was  held  was  crowded  to  overflowing  ;  the  exercises  were 
highly  imprcj^sive,  and  the  audience  appeared  to  listen  with  serious  and  profound 
interest.  In  the  course  of  an  animated  address,  Mr.  Godet  alluded  with  much 
effect  to  the  great  meeting  in  N.  Y.,  and  to  the  admirable  remarks  of  Prof.  Schaff, 
himself  a  son  of  Switzerland.  I  know  you  will  be  glad  to  learn  of  this  impor- 
tant demonstration,  and  also  to  receive  the  constitution  of  the  Association  which 
I  enclose." 

Germany. — There  are  many  indications  of  a  revival  of  the  Sabbath 
question — the  "  Church-Diet,"  "  Inner-Mission,"  and  other  bodies 
having  taken  it  ixp  in  various  forms,  and  some  of  the  Governments 
having  found  it  necessary  to  restrain  Sunday  excesses  by  more  strin- 
gent laws.  The  "  Inner-Mission,"  of  the  Rhine  Provinces  has  offered 
a  premium  for  a  treatise  on  tlie  Lord's  Day  in  its  relation  to  the  com- 
munity, the  family,  and  the  Church. 

A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ckaig,  of  Hamburg,  Germany,  Feb.  7, 
'60,  acknowledging  the  arrival  of  TOO  copies  of  German  Sabbath 
Documents,  (Nos.  1  and  9,)  sent  to  his  care  for  distribution  among 
the  Editors,  Professors,  and  other  leading  minds  of  Germany,  thus 
alludes  to  the  Sabbath  question  there  and  here  : 

"  I  received  a  few  days  ago  a  copy  of*  Sunday  Theatres,  Sacred  Concerts,'  &c., 
(No.  11,)  and  had  it  immediately  laid  before  a  committee  which  has  been  formed 
in  this  city  in  connection  with  the  '  Inner  Missions'  for  promoting  a  better  observ- 
ance of  the  Lord's  day.  I  was  requested  when  an  opportunity  occurred  to  return 
thanks  and  to  express  the  interest  which  Christian  friends  have  taken  in  your  ex- 
ertions in  behalf  of  the  Germans  who  have  left  our  shorcs'to  seek  a  home  with  you. 
Good  men  in  Germany  are  longing  to  see  the  dawn  of  better  days  in  this  respect, 
and  mourn  over  the  slow  progress  that  is  being  made.  We  rejoice,  however,  in 
beholding  the  energy  and  success  with  which  friends  in  America,  aided  by  their 
Constitution  and  tlie  freedom  of  their  Institutions,  are  laboring  to  bring  out  the 
great  truth  that  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  of  the  Sabbath.  May  the  God  of  peace 
and  holiness  acknowledge  your  labors,  and  own  this  work  as  a  cup  of  cold  water 
given  in  Uis  name  to  many  a  thirsty  soul  that  is  longing  for  the  peace  and  rest 
of  the  Sabbath." 

Among  other  Newspapers  in  Germany,  the  Kirchen-Zeitung  of 
Erlangen,  Bavaria,  contains  a  handsome  notice  of  the  German  meet- 
ing at  Cooper  Institute,  from  which  we  extract  a  few  lines : 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  23 

"  As  the  Americans  judge  their  German  fellow-citizens  by  the  tone  of  th.e 
newspapers,  of  which  the  Germans  publish  an  enormous  number,  and  which  al- 
most unanimously  oppose  the  Sibbath  Laws  with  a  blind  rage,  it  was  proper  to 
show  the  Americans  that  there  are  other  Gertnans  besides  the  radical  newspaper 
Editors.  Pastor  Guldin,  a  venerable  man  who  for  more  than  one  reason  deserves 
the  good-will  of  the  Germans,  made  an  address  in  which  he  did  justice  to  the 
Germans.  Prof.  Dr.  SchaS"  delivered  a  discourse  distingTiished  for  its  sound 
depth,  in  which,  in  a  practical  manner  rarely  found  in  German  Professors,  he 
argued  the  incalculable  influence  of  the  Sabbath  on  all  classes  of  society,"  etc. 

Sweden. — A  letter  from  a  distinguished  clergyman  in  Sweden,  in- 
forming of  the  signs  of  increased  religious  toleration  and  progress  in 
that  country,  writes :  "  The  question  of  Sabbath  observance  is  now 
fairly  arresting  the  attention  of  Christians.  Baron  Posse  has,  in  a 
vigorous  and  earnest  speech,  laid  a  motion  on  the  subject  before  the 
House  of  Lords." 


Conclusion. 

The  Committee  submit  this  record  of  their  labors  for  the  year  to  a 
community  whose  highest  interests  they  have  aimed  to  subserve,  . 
with  the  hope  that  it  may  contribute  to  awaken  a  juster  conviction 
of  the  value  of  the  Sabbath,  and  of  the  feasibility  of  rescuing  it  from 
the  shameless  neglect  and  profanation  into  which  it  had  fallen.  Some 
important  hints  may  surely  be  gathered  even  from  their  brief  exj)eri- 
ence. 

The  wisdom  of  making  simple,  clearly  defined  issues,  and  adhering 
to  them  to  the  last,  would  seem  to  be  vindicated.  There  have  been 
plentiful  endeavors  to  divert  the  Committee  from  the  specific  meas- 
ures they  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  initiate ;  but  they  have 
not  seen  fit  to  recognize  these  unfriendly  devices,  and  they  have 
failed  of  their  object. 

Then,  the  quiet  method  of  Christian  lie  form  has  proved  the  most 
effective.  If  any  conspicuity  has  been  given  to  the  Committee,  it 
has  been  vmsought  and  undesired,  and  is  due  mainly  to  the  denuncia- 
tions with  which  they  have  been  visited.  They  Jiave  attemjDted  no 
measures  of  popular  agitation  ;  have  held  no  "  mass-meetings  ;"  have 
asked  no  legislation ;  have  avoided  the  literature  of  epithets ;  have 
shunned  personalities;  have  eschewed  controversy; — in  a  word,  they 
have  aimed  to  commend  their  object  to  every  man's  conscience  in  the 
sight  of  God,  and  to  attain  it  by  means  consistent  with  christian  self- 
i-'spect  and  with  the  recognized  principles  of  manly  christian  action. 


24  PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 

The  Committee,  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  imperfection  of  their 
work,  are  not  unwilling  to  submit  the  whole  question  at  issue  between 
the  friends  and  the  enemies  of  ^the  Sabbath,  on  the  tone  and  objects 
of  the  parties  respectively  concerned  in  rescuing  or  overthrowing  a 
vital  interest.  And  they  refer  to  a  future  Scene  the  development  of 
those  unobserved  agencies  whose  results  alone  concern  the  public 
welfare.  While  they  presume  not  to  suggest  to  others  their  policy  in 
effecting  necessary  reforms,  they  would  avow  their  confidence  in  calm 
and  quiet  methods : 

For  "  every  power  that  fashions  and  upholds 

Works  silently — all  things  whose  life  is  SJtre 

Their  life  is  calm  :  silent  the  light  that  moulds 

And  colors  all  things  ;  and  without  debate 

The  stars,  which  are  forever  to  endure, 

Assume  their  thrones  and  their  unquestionable  state. 

The  policy  thus  indicated — narrow  issues  and  quiet  methods — has 
unmasked  the  real  character  qf  the  opposition  to  the  Sabbath  move- 
ment. Had  the  Committee  concerned  themselves  with  questions  of 
casuistry,  or  attempted  reforms  of  doubtful  expediency,  in  the  style 
of  invective  and  the  spirit  of  fanaticism,  it  wonld  have  been  easy  to 
cover  a  fatal  opposition  under  the  cry  of  "  civil  and  religious  liberty" 
and  a  pretended  defence  of  "  popular  rights."  But  with  no  "  rights" 
assailed  more  sacred  than  those  of  the  Sunday  newsboy  to  disturb 
the  public  peace;  or  of  the  Sunday  Dram-seller  and  Lager-Beer 
dealer  to  drug  and  demoralize  our  population  ;  this  clamor  became 
ridiculous :  and  no  other  defence  was  possible  than  that  of  open 
hostility  to  the  Sabbath,  and  to  the  revealed  religion  it  conserves. 
The  proceedings  of  the  Volks-Garden  meeting,  and  most  of  the 
articles  in  the  Sunday  papers,  German  and  English,  on  this  sub- 
ject, would  disgrace  the  pen  of  Tom  Paine:  indeed,  the  only 
avowed  organ  of  infidelity  in  this  country,  has  taken  pains  to  express 
sentiments  on  the  Sabbath  and  our  Sunday  laws  vastly  more  conserva- 
tive and  truthful  than  those  propagated  daily,  month  after  month,  in 
this  city.  We  do  not  regret  this  disclosure.  An  enemy  in  ambush 
is  doubly  formidable.  Revealed  and  outspoken,  he  is  powerless  as 
against  that  mighty  current  of  patriotism,  principle,  and  piety  which 
can  be  made  to  set  with  irresistible  force  against  selfish,  lawless, 
demoralizing  elements  banded  together  to  corrupt  society  and  over- 
throw its  moral  safeguards. 

The  belief  is  cherished  that  some  advance  has  been  made  in  this 
movement,  in  combining  atid  bringing  into  manly  action  the  dor- 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM.  25 

mant  moral  power  of  the  cultivated  and  Christian  classes  of  society. 
The  measure  of  recuperation,  in  the  direction  of  the  Committee's  labors, 
is  mainly  due,  under  God,  to  that  prompt  support  accorded  by  citizens 
whose  position  in  social  and  business  circles  entitles  them  to  influence 
in  all  great  questions  affecting  the  public  welfare.  And  if  the  future 
of  our  municipal  history  is  to  be  redeemed  from  the  scandals  and 
perils  of  the  past,  in  this  as  in  other  interests,  it  will  be  because  the 
men  who  have  most  at  stake  in  the  weal  or  woe  of  this  great  commu- 
nity, and  are  entrusted  of  God  with  the  capacity  and  the  means  of 
giving  a  right  direction  to  its  destiny,  come  forth  on  fitting  occasions 
to  confront  the  hosts  of  iniquity  Avith  determined  courage  and  self- 
sacrificing  zeal.  We  have  made  the  bitter  experiment  of  a  Sab- 
bathless, godless,  dram-shop  rule — of  the  "  sin  that  is  a  reproach  to 
any  people  :"  is  it  not  time  that  we  should  attempt  to  restore  the 
supremacy  of  law  and  morality, — of  the  "  righteousness  that  exalteth 
a  nation  ?" 

The  events  of  the  year  have  demonstrated  the  intimate  relation  of 
this  city  to  the  country.,  in  moral  no  less  than  in  commercial  aspects. 
As  the  various  sources  of  corruption  that  are  rife  here  are  copied 
elsewhere,  so  the  enterprises  successfully  inaugurated  here  to  combat 
vice  and  iniquity  prompt  to  action  in  other  great  communities.  And 
the  Committee  derive  new  incentives  to  exertion  from  the  fact  that 
a  restored  Sabbath  here  may  become  the  signal  and  the  encourage- 
ment for  universal  effort  throughout  the  land  to  check  the  tenden- 
cies toward  degeneracy  in  Sabbath  observance.  The  hopeful  move- 
ments in  sister  cities,  previously  noticed,  may  indicate  the  dawn  of 
an  American  Sabbath  enterprise. 

But  we  refrain  from  extending  the  deductions  which  every  intelli- 
gent mind  will  be  apt  to  draw  from  the  facts  of  this  pamphlet.  We 
have  but  entered  on  the  threshold  of  the  Sabbath  movement,  and  it 
may  be  safer  and  wiser  to  merely  record  the  fiicts  of  Providence  re- 
specting it,  than  to  indulge  in  generalizations  which  a  larger  experi- 
ence may  prove  to  be  delusive.  Enough  has  indeed  been  done  to 
demonstrate  that  something  can  be  done,  and  to  furnish  some  clue  to 
the  way  of  doing  it.  To  that  unaccomplished  work  the  Committee 
address  themselves  with  hope.  Their  future  plans  and  efforts  Avill 
take  shape  and  form  as  the  Providence  and  Spirit  of  God,  may 
indicate.  Their  trust  is  in  God,  and  in  the  principled  cooperation 
of  those  who  value  the  Day  of  God.  Their  only  interest  in  the 
cause  of  the  Sabbath,  is  that  common  to  every  Christian  citizen. 
Their  labors  for  it  are  only  effective  as  Christian  citizens  second  and 
sustain  them,  and  as  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath  owns  and  prospers  them. 


26 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


Thus  supported  and  blessed,  the  Committee  indulge  the  hope  that 
the  enterprise  entrusted  to  their  direction  will  become  an  humble 
instrument  of  good  to  our  city,  our  country,  and  the  world. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER, 
E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D., 
NATHAN  BISHOP, 
WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH, 
ROBERT  CARTER, 
WARREN  CARTER, 
THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS, 
E.  L.  FANCHER, 
FRED.  G.  FOSTER, 
DAYID  HOADLEY, 


NORMAN  WHITE,   Chairman. 

HORACE  HOLDEN, 
JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 
GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 
WM.  A.  SMITH, 
WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 
F.  S.  WINSTON. 
0.  E.  WOOD, 


JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recording  Secretary. 
RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Corresponding  Secretary. 
J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer. 


SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW  YOBK. 


GREAT  PUBLIC  MEETING. 


Proceedings  and  Addresses. 


The  friends  of  the  Sabbath  assembled  in 
great  numbers  on  the  invitation  of  the  Sab- 
bath Committee,  at  Cooper  Institute,  on 
the  evening  of  Feb.  26.  The  large  hall 
was  full — at  least  2000  persons  being  pre- 
sent, an  unusually  large  proportion  of  whom 
were  men  of  age,  position,  and  influence. 
After  a  fervent  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  De- 
Witt,  senior  pastor  of  the  CoUegiate  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  and  the  singing  of 
an  appropriate  hymn, 

Mr.  Norman  WnrrE,  who  presided,  stated 
the  object  of  the  meeting,  gratefully  recog- 
nizing the  Divine  blessing  on  the  Sabbath 
movement,  and  briefly  characterizing  the 
work  done,  and  in  progress.  The  Commit- 
tee knew  something  of  the  magnitude  of 
their  enterprise  at  the  outset ;  but  it  had 
expanded  beyond  their  anticipation,  and 
beyond  the  apprehension  of  the  general 
public.  When  the  first  meeting  was  held, 
it  was  stated  by  one  of  the  speakers  that  in 
addition  to  the  other  invasions  of  the  Sab- 
bath, there  was  a  theatre  in  fuU  operation 
every  Sunday  evening.  The  audience  was 
so  much  surprised  at  the  statement  that 
the  speaker  was  asked  whether  such  was 
really  the  case.  Now  they  would  hear  that 
there  is  in  the  city,  at  this  hour,  and  on 
every  Sunday  evening,  not  only  one,  but  a 
score  of  theatres  in  full  operation.     It  was 


necessary  they  should  hear  these  things, 
that  the  Christian  public  might  know  what 
they  had  to  do.  One  of  the  objects  for 
which  the  Committee  had  labored,  was  to 
convince  the  pubhc  that  they  had  a  deeper 
aim  than  the  mere  enforcement  of  laws. 
They  had  striven  to  make  the  pubhc  under- 
stand that  there  was  reason,  philanthropy, 
and  benevolence  in  the  Sabbath  reform. 
In  that  work  they  had  met  with  many 
obstacles  and  much  vituperation.  But  those 
who  had  used  vituperation  had  not  been 
answered.  The  Committee  beheved  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  good  citizens  to  consider  the 
causes  of  the  alarming  amount  of  pauperism 
and  crime.  It  is  clearly  better  to  remove 
temptation  and  to  prevent  crime  than  to 
erect  institutions  on  our  "  Islands  "  and  to 
fill  them  with  the  fallen ;  as  it  is  better  to 
erect  Hght-houses,  alarm-bells,  and  beacons 
on  a  dangerous  coast,  than  to  fine  the 
shore  with  wreckers.  They  had  worked  at 
the  wrong  end  too  long.  If  they  had  done 
their  duty  correctly  before,  they  had  not 
seen  such  a  condition  of  things  now.  How- 
ever, with  the  knowledge  now  possessed, 
the  work  could  be  prosecuted  with  good 
promise  of  success,  and  every  citizen  was 
responsible  for  it.  While  communities 
were  not  immortal,  individual  members  of 
them  were,  and  their  responsibihty,  under 
(27) 


28 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


God,  -was  measured  by  their  capacity  and 
opportunity.  He  was  glad  to  be  able  to 
say  that  there  was  encouragement  to  go 
on  in  the  work.  We  hear  the  voice  of 
Providence,  saying,  "Be  of  good  courage. 
Go  forward." 

Address  of  Mr.  Secretary  Cook. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Committee  gave  the 
history  and  results  of  one  of  the  enterprises 
of  the  past  year, — that  for  the  suppression 
of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.  He  first 
sketched  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  en- 
countered in  dealing  with  nearly  8000  un- 
licensed dram-sellers,  more  than  5000  of 
whom  prosecuted  their  business  on  the 
Lord's  day,  with  multiplied  accessories  of 
the  most  demoralizing  character  and  of  the 
most  formidable  extent.  Their  investiga- 
tions had  demonstrated  an  intimate  connec- 
tion between  these  sources  of  Sunday  dis- 
sipation and  the  abounding  crime  and 
pauperism  of  the  city.  But  all  efforts  to 
check  the  evil  had  been  powerless.  The 
police  authorities  had  lodged  26,000  com- 
plaints for  the  violation  of  the  Sunday 
Liquor  Laws  with  the  District  Attorney ; 
but  as  no  case  had  been  prosecuted  to  con- 
viction, the  Police  Commissioners  had  just 
then  stated  in  their  Report  to  the  Legisla- 
ture that  without  "severer  penalties  and 
summary  proceedings,  the  onerous  duty  of 
reporting  Sabbath  desecrations  will  be  use- 
less." The  Excise  Commissioners  were 
also  defied,  and  only  72  licenses  had  been 
applied  for  and  granted — less  than  one  per 
cent,  of  the  dealers !  The  criminal  judici- 
ary, to  say  nothing  of  other  municipal  offi- 
cers, was  largely  the  creature  of  the  liquor 
interest;  and,  worse  than  all,  public  senti- 
ment had  been  corrupted,  drugged,  para- 
lysed, so  that  a  feeling  of  despair  had  fallen 
on  the  community.  "  Temperance  "  men, 
failing  to  secure  all  they  wanted  of  legisla- 
tive action,  had  abandoned  the  existing 
laws:  hope  had  died  out  on  all  hands. 


Such  were  the  circumstances  in  which 
the  Committee  undertook  this  effort.  Their 
first  work  was  to  prepare  a  Document — 
"  The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic  " — exposing 
the  extent  and  bearings — financial,  sani- 
tary, moral  and  religious — of  this  gigantic 
evil.  The  appeal  was  made  to  the  under- 
standing and  conscience,  rather  than  to  the 
prejudices  and  passions  of  the  community ; 
and  it  met  with  an  almost  universal  re- 
sponse. The  respectable  Press  of  the  city 
accepted  and  discussed  the  questions  pre- 
sented with  great  ability  and  thoroughness. 
Journals  divided  on  most  other  questions 
were  unanimous  on  this  topic ;  and  that 
unbroken  front,  backed  by  a  united  public, 
taught  the  Sunday  Press  and  the  Sunday 
Dealers  that  they  were  confronted  by  a 
new  and  overwhelming  power.  The  Com- 
mittee and  the  public  owed  a  profound 
debt  of  gratitude  to  the  respectable  Press 
for  its  service  in  this  behalf.  At  the  proper 
juncture,  public  sentiment  was  concentrated 
in  a  " Ifemorial  of  Citizens"  to  the  PoUce 
Commissioners,  invoking  their  intervention 
and  positive  action,  which  soon  received 
some  600  influential  signatures.  A  "  coun- 
ter-memorial," with  a  list  of  signers  as 
limping  as  its  logic,  (three-fourths  being 
non-residents  or  not  to  be  found  in  the 
Directory!)  was  also  presented.  The  ac- 
tion of  the  Police  Commissioners  was 
worthy  of  them  and  of  the  city — pledging 
"  the  whole  power  of  the  pohce  force  "  for 
the  "  prevention  of  public  exhibitions  on 
Sundays,  and  trafficing  in  liquors  and  other 
like  things."  Then  came  the  trial  of  some 
of  the  26,000  complaints  in  the  District 
Attorney's  hands,  before 'an  honest  judge 
and  jury,  with  honest  verdicts  in  twelve 
suits.  These  were  all  appealed — but  till 
this  day  without  argument  or  decision. 
Why  ?  Why,  for  years,  has  it  been  im- 
possible to  secure  the  ends  of  law  and  jus- 
tice in  this  city  when  hquor-selling  was 
concerned  in  the  issue?    May  it  not  be 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


29 


due  to  the  influence  of  a  secret  organization^ 
numbering  6,000  members,  mostly  foreign- 
ers, ■with  ample  funds,  boasting  its  poUtical 
power,  and  perhaps  employing  its  resources 
"  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  courts  and 
pubhc  officers,"  as  well  as  in  "  dictating  to 
pohtical  parties  who  they  shall  have  for 
candidates  ?  "  It  may  be  to  this  organiza- 
tion, the  Excise  Commissioners  allude  when 
they  speak  of  the  "obstinate  litigation" 
they  have  encountered  in  the  trial  of  the 
thousands  of  suits  in  their  hands.  Add  to 
tills  the  combined  power  of  the  Sunday 
Press,  which  had  done  all  that  could  be 
done,  by  the  multiplication  of  false  issues 
and  by  abuse  of  the  Sabbath  Committee, 
the  Superintendent  of  Police,  and  the  Po- 
lice Commissioners,  to  shield  an  iniquitous 
business,  and  it  would  be  seen  that  it  had 
been  no  trifling  conflict.  Then,  as  the  con- 
flict thickened,  a  rally  of  opponents  was 
made  in  the  Volks-Garden,  where  the  op- 
position of  the  Liquor,  Lager  and  Sunday 
newspaper  interests  culminated  in  a  meet- 
ing so  boldly  infidel,  atheistic,  and  demor- 
alizing in  its  composition  and  action,  as  to 
destroy  itself  The  greatest  reliance  had 
been  placed  on  emigrant  Germans  as  the 
basis  of  an  agitation  for  the  repeal  of  our 
Sunday  laws,  and,  if  need  be,  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  no-Sunday  party.  But  the  re- 
spectable Germans  became  indignant  that 
the  German  name  should  be  made  respon- 
sible for  affinity  with  the  immoralities  of 
Lager-beer-dom  and  the  Volks-Garden 
meeting ;  and  they  assembled  to  the  num- 
ber of  1,500  in  this  place  to  testify  their 
regard  for  the  Sabbath  and  the  laws  which 
guard  its  sanctity.  Their  proceedings,  pub- 
lished in  a  document  of  the  Committee, 
have  exerted  a  wide  and  important  influ- 
ence in  this  country  and  in  Germany,  and 
tho  respectable  and  Christian  Germans  are 
in  a  position  of  more  positive  friendliness 
to  the  Sabbath  than  ever  before. 

Before  entering  on  a  statement  of  the 


results  of  the  partial  suppression  of  Sunday 
tippling,  Mr.  Cook  read  an  extract  from 
one  of  the  Sunday  papers,  which  claimed  a 
higher  morahty  for  Sabbath-breaking  Eu- 
ropean Capitals  than  for  Sabbath-keeping 
communities,  and  arguing  that  "a  like 
cause  here  is  working  like  eff'ects ;  so  that 
if  Sabbatarians  only  succeed  in  their  mis- 
sion," (a  decent  observiince  of  the  Sabl:)ath,) 
"New  York  will  be  more  degraded  by  the 
intoxication  of  its  inhabitants  than  even 
Glasgow."  To  which  Mr.  C.  replied  :  that 
whatever  degradation  there  might  be  in 
Glasgow,  and  other  "  Sabbatarian  "  cities, 
was  notoriously  among  the  Sahbath-ireak- 
ing  element  of  the  population — as  appeared 
from  the  fact  that  the  "  Forbes  Mackenzie 
Act"  for  closing  Sunday  liquor-shops  had 
checked  a  large  part  of  the  crime  of  Scot- 
land, and  had  diminished  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors  by  more  than  $6,000,000  a 
year  during  the  past  four  years.  But  who 
committed  crime  in  New  York  ?  Let  the 
statistics  of  the  Police  answer,  which  show 
eighty-seven  per  cent,  of  the  arrests  for  the 
last  year  to  have  been  of  the  foreign-born, 
Sabbath-breaking  population,  to  thirteen  per 
cent,  of  our  native  population,  and  that  the 
Sabbath-breaking  part  of  it :  whereas  the 
foreign  element  composed  less  than  one- 
third  part  of  our  aggregate  population. 
And,  if  the  morality  of  the  Sabbath  were 
further  questioned,  he  would  point  to  the 
statistics  which  show  the  comparative  chas- 
tity of  communities  observing  or  contem- 
ning the  Fourth  Commandment.  How 
is  it  that  Governmental  Records  of  unques- 
tioned authority  show  the  ratio  of  illegiti- 
mate births  to  have  been  but  four  per  cent. 
in  London — the  capital  of  a  comparatively 
Sabbath-keeping  kingdom — while  it  is  33 
per  cent,  in  Paris ;  35  in  Brussels ;  48  in 
Munich;  and  51  in  Vienna — the  notorious 
centres  of  the  holiday,  pleasure  Sunday  of 
the  Continent  ?  Such  are  the  facts.  Qual- 
ify them  as  you  will,  explain  them  as  you 


30 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


may,  no  ingenuity  of  logic  can  lessen  the 
terrible  implication  of  fact  and  of  history 
that  Sabbath-breaking  and  adultery  and  ly- 
ing and  kindred  vices  and  crimes  are  in- 
timately connected  in  human  experience, 
as  they  are  in  the  prohibitions  of  the  moral 
law. 

But  he  would  come  home  figain  to  our 
own  city,  and  see  what  are  the  lessons  of 
experience  here.  By  the  showing  of 
the  Police  Eecords,  extending  over  a  pe- 
riod of  eighteen  months  preceding  the 
attempted  Eeform,  Sunday  crime  exceeded 
the  average  of  week-day  crime  hy  twenty- 
five  per  cent.  These  were  the  days  of  Sun- 
day dram-selhng.  We  had  had  the  experi- 
ence of  six  months  under  a  different  regime 
— Greneral  PiUsbury  having  issued  his  order 
to  close  the  liquor  shops  in  August  last : 
and  what  have  been  the  practical  results  f 
Why,  the  average  arrests  for  drunkenness 
and  crime,  during  the  last  six  months,  have 
been  about  sixty  per  cent,  more  on  week- 
days than  on  Sundays;  or  an  absolute 
change  of  some  eighty-five  per  cent.,  and 
a  relative  change  of  about  one  hundred 
per  cent !  And,  as  was  expected,  the  ratio 
of  week-day  crime  itself  is  rapidly  dimin- 
ishing. Thus,  for  the  last  quarter,  the  Su- 
perintendent of  Police  reports  a  falling  off 
of  more  than  seven  thoiisand  arrests;  and 
last  Sunday  had  a  smaller  number  than  has 
been  recorded  on  any  day  in  three  years. 

Yet  the  work  of  suppression  was  incom- 
plete, while  there  were,  in  his  judgment, 
adequate  but  unemployed  powers  in  the 
Police  Board  to  consummate  and  perfect 
this  Reform.  That  Board  could  not  only 
complain  of  offenders:  they  could  arrest 
them;  they  could  shut  up  the  premises 
where  intoxicating  liquors  were  "  pubHcly 
kept  and  exposed  for  sale;"  they  could  turn 
men  away  from  doors  opened  to  tempt 
men  to  drunkenness  and  crime.  And  their 
organic  Act  not  only  thus  empowered 
them,  but  it  required  them  to  "  prevent 


crime"  if  they  could,  and  to  "  arrest  offend- 
ers" if  offenders  there  were ;  and  "  to  see 
that  all  laws  relating  to  the  observance  of 
Sunday,  and  regarding  gambUng,  intem- 
perance, disorderly  persons,  &c.,  are  pro- 
perly enforced."  More  than  this,  it  empow- 
ered patrolmen  with  the  authority  of 
constables,  who,  by  common  and  statute 
law,  may  and  must  arrest  for  misdemeanors 
committed  in  their  presence,  without  war- 
rant or  complaint;  and  it  makes  such 
patrolmen  themselves  guilty  of  a  misde- 
meanor if  they  neglect  to  do  this.  Such 
is  the  unquestionable  import  of  Judge 
Hilton's  reply  in  the  matter  of  the  Sunday 
Liquor  cases ;  and  such  the  obvious  teach- 
ing of  the  statutes  affecting  this  question. 

Mr.  Cook  then  passed  to  the  discussion 
of  the  extent,  character  and  influence  of 
the  German  system  of  Beer-Gardens,  The- 
atres, and  '•'  Sacred  Concerts,"  and  of  the 
measures  requisite  for  their  suppression. 
He  also  exposed  the  scandalous  establish- 
ments, even  more  debasing  and  corrupting 
in  their  accompaniments,  now  in  operation 
every  Sunday  night  in  the  most  puljlic 
halls  in  Broadway,  under  American  and 
Irish  auspices — tempting  our  apprentices 
and  stranger  youth  to  ruin.  And  he  closed 
with  an  appeal  to  good  citizens — men  of 
position  and  influence — to  stand  by  the 
Committee  and  by  the  expanding  work 
they  were  attempting,  by  divine  help,  to 
perform,  for  the  good  of  the  city,  the  coun- 
try, and  the  world. 

Address  of  Bishop  Janes. 

Bishop  Janes  was  the  next  speaker.  He  had  not  been 
surprised  by  the  statements  of  the  Chairman  or  the 
Secretary  that  their  organization  had  awakened  oppo- 
sition. When  did  an  enemy  fail  to  sow  tares  ?  The 
most  disgusting  characteristics  of  the  world  were  it.s 
antagonisms.  They  existed  in  every  nation,  and  even  in 
the  domestic  circle  antagonisms  arose.  But  in  the 
moral  world  those  collisions  were  most  frequent  and 
most  fatal.  Every  heart  was  a  battUvfloUl  in  which  a 
vi'  tory  was  to  he  lost  or  won.  As  a  heathen  once  ex- 
pressed it,  he  felt  he  had  two  hearts,  the  one  impelling 
him  to  do  right  and  the  other  tp  do  wrong.     Or,  as  the 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


31 


Bible  expressed  the  same  idea  : "  When  I  would  do  good, 
evil  is  present  with  me,  so  that  the  good  I  would  I  do 
not,  and  the  evil  that  I  would  not  that  I  do."  Equally 
clear,  perhaps,  was  the  declaration  of  the  poet : 

"  We  see  the  right,  and  we  approve  it,  too. 
Condemn  the  wrong,  and  yet  the  wrong  pursue." 

In  these  single  combats  between  good  and  evil,  where 
the  evil  gained  the  ascendancy,  it  led  its  degraded  cap- 
tives in  the  hosts  of  wrong.  It  was  this  organic  wicked- 
ness that  jeoparded  social  and  national  piety.  Large 
cities  are  the  points  where  the  allied  forces  of  evil  make 
their  combined  assaults  upon  virtue  and  piety,  exactly 
as  in  the  history  of  war  the  main  assaults  were  upon 
the  cities.  Look  at  the  influence  of  this  city  upon  this 
nation.  That  influence  was  felt  everywhere,  and 
whether  it  was  good  or  evil,  it  was  general  and  power- 
ful. He  believed  the  influence  of  New  York  on  the 
morals  of  the  land  was  pervading  and  mighty.  With 
what  grandeur  did  that  idea  clothe  the  objects  of  this 
Association  1  Its  work  was  no  longer  local,  but  the  mo- 
ral welfare  of  the  nation,  perhaps  of  the  world,  were 
affected.  Who  could  measure  the  human  destiny  in- 
volved in  this  success  1  Tlie  work  was  difScult  in  a 
large  city.  The  wicked  could  carry  on  their  plans  in 
secret  ;  they  could  hide,  to  some  extent,  the  deformity 
of  their  conduct.  Here  these  evil-disposed  persons 
could  communicate  directly  and  safely  with  each  other, 
and  thus  educate  each  other  for  the  work  of  wrong.  All 
these  associations  of  dram-shops,  places  for  gambling, 
bawdy-houses,  and  other  places  of  vulgar  amusement, 
were  catering  to  animal  appetites,  evil  propensities, 
and  excited  and  depraved  passions.  They  worked  with 
the  current,  while  moral  reform  had  to  roll  against  the 
current,  employing  sufficient  power  to  stem  the  current, 
and  bear  on  general  piety.  Their  opponents  illustrated 
the  fact  that  this  was  a  combat  between  benevolence 
and  cupidity.  Their  opponents  did  not  give,  but  receiv- 
ed ;  they  were  not  benevolent,  but  selfish,  and  there  was 
never  selfishness  so  ungenerous  as  theirs  ;  they  would 
not  bury  their  own  slain  :  they  were  so  sordid  that 
they  would  not  attend  to  their  own  wounded  ;  others 
must  take  care  of  the  loafers  made  through  their  in- 
strumentality. When  they  saw  how  uncaring  they 
were  for  their  own  victims,  the  good  would  pity  and 
pray  for  them,  in  view  of  the  terrible  fate  awaiting 
their  crimes. 

But  the  good  could  associate  also.  A  more  direct 
agency  could  be  had  to  rescue  the  fallen  than  could  be 
procured  in  the  rural  districts.  He  that  was  for  the 
reform  was  mightier  than  all  that  could  he  enlisted 
against  him.  Here  was  the  reason  why  virtue  had  not 
all  been  swept  away — there  had  been  a  God,  a  Bible, 
and  a  Sabbath  in  the  city.  While  they  had  these,  vir- 
tue would  prevail  and  have  the  ascendancy  in  the 
earth.  The  Secretary  had  referred  to  an  agency  to  in- 
fluence childhood  in  the  wrong  path.  He  was  satisfied 
that  childhood  was  the  strong  point  of  morality  and  re- 
ligion. If  they  would  promote  charity,  they  should 
continue  and  enlarge  their  influence  over  childhood. 


If  children  were  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  morality  and 
religion,  they  would  have  not  only  an  additional  force 
when  they  were  grown,  but  a  better  trained  and  equip- 
ped power,  commencing  with  the  children,  and  work- 
ing by  all  the  authority  of  the  laws  of  the  land  and  the 
commandments  of  God,  they  could  not  but  continue, 
until  in  all  the  by-places  the  day  of  God  would  be  re- 
membered, sanctified,  and  heeded. 

Then  other  virtues  would  follow,  one  virtue  always 
engendered  kindred  virtues,  and  with  religious  institu- 
tions the  Sabbath  did  not  stand  alone.  Promoting  all 
and  sustaining  all,  they  would  combine  all  the  influ- 
ences that  God  had  given  for  the  salvation  of  men.  He 
hoped  the  cause  would  be  in  their  hearts  as  well  as  in 
their  hands,  so  long  as  God  gave  them  capacity  to  labor 
for  him  and  for  humanity. 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hogk. 
Rev.  Dr.  Hoge  was  the  next  speaker.  He  said  he  felt 
it  was  profitable  though  painful  for  them  to  be  here. 
Most  of  them  had  come  from  influences  that  made  them 
feel  that  all  was  safe  with  them.  But  at  this  meeting 
they  had  heard  things  that  ought  to  make  the  stoutest 
heart  quake.  Would  to  God  that  all  sober,  industrious, 
honest  citizens  could  have  heard  the  statements  made 
to-night.  The  snow-clad  earth  had  recently  looked  so 
pure,  that  all  the  earth  seemed  spotless.  But,  away 
below  all  this,  they  knew  that  there  was  a  gulf  reeking 
with  filth  and  corruption,  bearing  away  the  impurity  of 
the  city.  But  he  felt  as  he  did  a  few  nights  since,  when, 
resting  quietly  in  his  chamber,  he  detected  the  gradu- 
ally accumulating  smoke.  Through  the  house  the 
smoke  kept  gathering,  and  yet  there  was  no  flame  ;  it 
was  working  in  secret  through  the  walls.  He  thanked 
God  that  these  moral  dangers  allowed  of  a  cry  for  help 
in  the  coming  struggle.  The  Committee  had  thia  night 
given  the  notes  of  warning.  He  knew  that  the  work  of 
the  Committee  had  been  a  difficult  one,  and  perhaps 
distasteful  ;  but  it  was  sometimes  neces.sary,  when  a 
neighborhood  had  been  ravaged,  for  the  courageous 
man  to  go  down  in  the  dark  den  of  the  wolf,  and  strive 
with  the  ferocious  enemy  that  in  secret  stole  out  cand 
committed  its  ravages.  It  would  be  the  people's  fault 
now  if  the  evil  continues.  The  trumpet  had  been 
sounded  for  help  to  come  up  on  behalf  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty,  the  desperate,  and  the  wicked.  The 
Committee  could  not  do  the  work  alone.  The  meeting 
had  been  called  to  create  energy  in  a  work  that  was  to 
be  long,  patient,  and  costly,  and  from  which  probably 
they  could  never  be  discharged.  The  work  appealed 
to  all  to  be  its  advocates  and  defenders. 

Wliat  was  it  that  called  for  help  ?  The  oldest  institu- 
tion in  all  this  world — that  which  God  had  made  pe- 
culiar to  his  people.  When  creation  was  finished,  the 
Sabbath  day  was  its  crown.  When  God's  work  was 
complete  then  came  this  blessed  jubilee,  and  God  and 
man  rejoiced.  It  was  God's  seventh  day,  but  it  was 
man's  first  day.  The  change  at  the  resurrection  of 
Christ  was  beautiful.  Ilencoforth  man  celebrated  his 
own  first  day  in  joyous  communion  with  his  God,  and 


PEOGRESS  OF  THE  SABBATH  REFORM. 


the  day  on  which  the  second  Adam  went  to  his  Father. 
There  was  a  twin  institution  horn  at  the  same  time — 
the  institution  of  marriage.  He  was  not  surprised  at 
the  statement  that  the  seventh  and  fourth  command- 
ments were  alike  violated,  and  that  those  who  would 
strike  down  the  one  would  demolish  the  other.  When 
man  struck  a  hlow  at  one  he  would  never  rest  until  the 
other  could  bo  destroyed.  It  was  simply  a  question 
whether  the  city  should  he  another  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
rah. How  could  they  spare  the  Sabbath  day?  Even 
the  brute  needs  his  Sabbath.  Our  physical  and  intel- 
lectual life  demands  it.  They  might  show  how  all  the 
noblest  faculties  of  the  mind  were  filled  with  their 
proper  nutriment  on  that  day.  There  should  be  one 
day  on  which  man  could  learn  the  lesson  of  his  immor- 
tality. How  should  they  secure  the  feeling  that  man  is 
immortal,  and  lift  his  aspirations  towards  Heaven  ? 
Could  it  be  learned  in  Chatham  street  among  the  ready- 
made  and  second  hand  clothes  seven  days  in  the  week  ? 
Could  it  be  learned  among  the  sales  and  exchanges  of 
real  estate  in  Wall  street,  where  the  chief  music  is  but 
the  chink  of  the  dollar,  and  the  chimes  of  old  Trinity 
serve  but  to  remind  the  merchant  of  the  hours  of  bank- 
ing and  business?  Could  it  be  learned  in  Broadway, 
among  the  silks  and  diamonds  ?  How  could  they  bring 
sweet  and  high  and  holy  influences  upon  them  ?  They 
must  have  a  day  for  this,  and  God  gave  them  that  day, 
not  simply  for  relaxation  from  labor,  but  for  a  high  and 
holy  end.  Some  would  deem  a  Sabbath  of  amuse- 
ments sufficient ;  but,  if  they  would  read  of  the  effect  of 
such  Sabbaths,  follow  a  company  on  a  Sabbath  to 
Jones'  Wood,  and  see  the  spiritual  stimulants  of  the 
preachers.  All  accounts  agreed  that  the  day  was  spent 
in  dissipation  ;  that  the  men  had  not  been  drinking  in 
the  beauties  of  nature — it  was  lager  bier  that  they  were 
drinking  in  from  morning  to  night.  It  was  the  rope- 
dancing,  and  all  the  belittleing  influences  of  the  mind, 
that  attracted  the  crowd.  And  were  they  most  re- 
freshed for  the  next  day's  labor  ?  Or  was  it  not  those 
who  observed  the  Christian  Sabbath  who  were  most 
refreshed  by  the  day  of  rest?  Was  it  not  these,  at 
peace  with  God  and  man,  who  awoke  refreshed  for  the 
duties  of  another  week?  But,  if  this  life  was  our  all, 
we  might  eat  and  drink,  and  perhaps  the  sooner  we  die 
the  better.  Then  is  man  the  waste  of  all  that  is 
believed  to  bo  noble,  and  the  gospel  of  the  German 


philosopher — the  doctrine  of  suicide — is  the  only  gospel 
for  man.  When  society  had  so  forgotten  its  immor- 
tality, that  doctrine  of  suicide  became  practical  ;  it 
was  preached,  and  men  plunged  into  destruction  by 
thousands. 

Let  the  friends  of  reform  therefore  gird  on  their 
armor.  They  preached  not  the  long,  gloomy,  dull,  im- 
pleasant,  Pharisaical,  puritanical  Sabbath  that  their 
enemies  suggested,  but  the  Sabbath  that  God  "  made 
for  man  " — ministering  to  man's  best  want,  and  bring- 
ing down  its  mercies  upon  him.  If  the  editors  of 
those  presses  who  had  aided  them  were  present,  ho 
would  call  upon  them  to  renew  their  efforts.  Oh  I  let 
them  write  for  God,  for  truth,  for  what  ennobles  men, 
for  that  which  will  train  up  our  youth  as  citizens 
of  whom  our  country  may  be  proud.  And,  oh  I  that 
they  should  write  no  line  that,  "  dying,  they  would  wish 
to  blot." 

What  memories  and  hallowed  associations  were  gath- 
ered round  the  Sabbath  day  !  Well  might  it  be  called 
the  Pearl  of  days.  Well  had  CoiERroGE  said,  "  It  brings 
fifty-two  Spring  days  to  us  in  the  year.  Spring  days, 
indeed,  they  were,  which,  leading  back  to  the  remem- 
brance of  Paradise,  led  onward  to  that  day  when  eter- 
nal Summer  should  spread  again  over  the  earth. 

The  venerable  Mr.  George  Douglas,  of 
Long  Island,  arose  among  the  audience, 
and  gave  utterance  to  his  interest  in  the 
Sabbath  Reform,  with  the  munificent  prof- 
fer of  $2,000  to  sustain  the  operations  of 
the  Committee.  Not  a  word  had  been  said 
during  the  exercises  as  to  the  pecuniary- 
burdens  of  the  movement;  but  this  and 
other  generous  acts  show  that  the  friends 
of  the  Sabbath  are  not  unconscious  of 
their  existence,  and  are  not  unwilling  to 
share  them. 

With  the  Christian  Doxology,  and  the 
Benediction  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Krebs,  the  immense  assembly  dispersed. 


Doc.  No.  XIII. 

THE  PPiESS  OF  NEW  YORK 


ON  THE 


LAW  AGAINST  SUNDAY  THEATRES,  ETC. 


1.  The  Law. 

2.  Grerman  Petition  and  Remonstrance. 

3.  Action  of  Police  Department. 

4.  Organized  Resistance  to  Law. 

5.  Comments  of  the  Daily,  Weekly,  and  Sunday  Press. 


AN  ACT 

To  Preserve  the  Public  Peace  and  Order  oyi  the  first  day   of  the 
week^  commonly  called  Sunday. 

SECTioisr  1.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  to  exhibit  on  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  commonly  called  Sunday,  to  the  public,  in  any  building 
garden,  grounds,  concert-room,  or  other  room  or  place  within  the 
city  and  county  of  New  York,  any  interlude,  tragedy,  opera,  bal- 
let, play,  farce,  negro  minstrelsy,  negro  or  other  dancing,  or  any 
other  entertainment  of  the  stage,  or  any  part  or  parts  therein  or 
any  equestrian,  circus,  or  dramatic  performance,  or  any  perform- 
ance of  jugglers,  acrobats  or  rope-dancing. 

Sec.  2.  Any  person  offending  against  the  provisions  of  this 
law,  and  every  person  aiding  in  such  exhibition,  by  advertisement 
or  otherwise,  and  every  owner  or  lessee  of  any  building,  ground 
garden,  or  concert-room,  or  other  room  or  place,  who  shall  lease  or 
let  out  the  same  for  the  purpose  of  any  such  exhibition  or  per- 
formance, or  assent  that  the  same  be  used  for  any  such  purpose,  if 
the  same  shall  be  used  for  such  purpose,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  mis- 
demeanor, and  in  addition  to  the  punishment  therefor  provided  by 
law,  shall  be  subjected  to  a  penalty  of  $500,  which  penalty  the 
Society  for  the  Eeformation  of  Juvenile  Delinquents  in  said  city 
are  hereby  authorized,  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  this  State,  to 
prosecute,  sue  for,  and  recover  for  the  use  of  said  Society ;  in 
addition  to  which,  every  such  exhibition  or  performance  shall  of 
itself  forfeit,  vacate  and  annul,  and  render  void  and  of  no  effect, 
any  license  which  shall  have  been  previously  obtained  by  any 


%  THE   FEESS   OP   NEW   YORK   ON   THE 

manager,  proprietor,  owner,  or  lessee,  consenting  to,  causing,  or 
allowing,  or  letting  anj  part  of  a  building  for  the  purpose  of  such 
exhibition  and  performance. 

Sec.  3.    This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

[  T/ie  above  Act  was  passed,  and  signed  hy  the  Governor^  April 
17,  I860.] 

G-erman  Petition  and  Remonstrance. 

[The  following  Petition,  printed  in  English  alone  for  the  signature 
of  Germans,  was  circulated  in  Beer  Gardens  and  Theatres,  and 
received  4,805  names,  including  fabrications  and  forgeries.  It  speaks 
for  itself.] 

PETITION  FOR  THE  REPEAL  OF  THE  SUNDAY  LAWS, 
To  the  Honorable  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  : 

The  undersigned,  residents  of  the  City  of  ,  being  satisfied  that 

the  Sunday  Laws  as  they  now  exist  are  unconstitutional,  inasmuch  as  they 
deprive  citizens  of  their  civil  and  religious  liberties,  and  being  further  convinced 
that  they  cannot  and  ought  not  to  be  enforced,  because  public  opinion  has  con- 
demned said  Laws :  Now  we,  the  undersigned,  respectfully  petition  Your  Honor- 
able Body  for  the  repeal  of  the  said  Sunday  Laws,  and  we  at  the  same  time 
remonstrate  against  the  passage  of  the  bill  recently  introduced,  by  which  said  laws 
are  to  be  made  still  more  stringent  and  vexatious. 

And  Your  petitioners  will  ever  pray. 

From   The    Journal    of    Commerce,    March    17. 
RALLY  OF  GERMANS  FOR  THE  SUNDAY  LAWS. 
[The  attempt  of  the  German  beer-garden  gentlemen  to  repeal  all  our  Sunday 
Laws  has  aroused  the  respectable  German  population.     Without  any  public  meet- 
ing, and  almost  without  concert  of  action,  they  have  sent  forwai'd  about  one 
thousand  signatures  to  the  following  remonstrance,  and  thousands  more  will  fol- 
low.    It  turns  out  that  the  noisy,  Sunday-despising  portion  of  the  German  popu- 
lation is  not  so  numerous  or  powerful  as  their  boasting  would  indicate.] 
REMONSTRANCE    OF  GERMANS  AGAINST  THE    REPEAL    OF    SUNDAY 

LAWS. 
[Translation.] 
To  the  Honorable  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York: 

The  undersigned,  German  residents  of  the  city  of  New  York,  concur  in  the 
sentiment  of  one  of  the  resolutions  unanimously  passed  at  a  meeting  of  more  than 
1,500  German  citizens,  held  at  Cooper  Institute,  October  16th,  1859,  as  follows  : 

'^Resolved,  That  in  the  Sunday  Laws  of  this  country,  as  they  obtain  in  nearly 
every  State  of  our  great  Republican  Confederacy,  we  see  nothing  that  conflicts 
with  the  cherished  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  on  the  contrary, 
we  regard  them  as  one  of  the  strongest  guarantees  of  our  free  institutions  ;  as  a 
wholesome  check  upon  licentiousness  and  dissipation ;  as  a  preventive  of  pau- 
perism and  crime,  which  must  necessarily  undermine  and  ultimately  destroy  the 
liberty  of  any  people." 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  3 

"We  therefore  earnestly  remonstrate  against  the  repeal  of  the  laws  of  this  State, 
which  guarantee  and  protect  a  day  of  weekly  rest  and  worship  for  all  classes. 

The  undersigned  would  also  pray  that  a  law  may  be  enacted  to  regulate  and 
restrain  demoralizing  public  performances  on  all  days  of  the  week,  and  especially 
on  Sunday,  as  a  necessary  means  of  arresting  the  dissipation,  pauperism  and  crime, 
which  are  bringing  a  reproach  on  the  German  name. 

From  The  Times,  April  4. 
BOGUS  NO-SUNDAY  PETITION.^ 

Albany,  Friday,  March  30.  1860. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Neiv   York   Times  : 

A  German  gentleman  of  New  York,  who  does  not  train  in  the  LindenmuUer  Com- 
pany, a  little  curious  about  the  Anti-Sunday  Petition  of  his  countrymen,  gives  me 
the  following  results  of  his  investigation  this  morning.  The  whole  number  of  sig- 
natures claimed  to  be  attached  to  the  petition  varies  from  10,000  to  100,000  !  The 
actual  number  is  4,805.  Of  these,  317  are  appended  to  a  MS.  petition,  addressed  to 
the  Governor,  and  purport  to  be  the  signatures  of  ^•Citizens  of  the  City  of  New 
York. "  These  names  lie  compared  with  the  New  York  Directory,  and  it  is  ascertained 
that  eleven  are  genuine — including  five  saloon-keepers  and  grocers  ;  but  that  three 
hundred  and  six  out  of  three  hundred  and  seventeen  are  not  to  he  found  ! 

Among  the  signatures  in  the  larger  list  are  many  obvious  forgeries:  for  example 
— "  Horace  Greely,  No.  95  Elizabeth  street,"  has  not  the  poor  merit  of  being  spelled 
accurately.  Other  equally  unfortunate  errors  abound.  This  ought  to  dispose  of  the 
No-Sunday  Petition,  and  of  the  opposition  to  the  bill  for  suppressing  the  Sunday 
theatres.  They  are  the  known  centres  of  many  vices  and  crimes.  This  bogus  peti- 
tion must  now  be  added  to  the  catalogue  of  iniquities  for  which  they  are  responsible. 

K. 
From  The  Observer,  April  5. 

ANTI-SABBATH  MEETING. 

The  German  meeting  at  the  Cooper  Institute  last  year  was  a  noble  demonstration 
in  favor  of  the  Sabbath,  and  a  proof  that  the  Germans  as  a  mass  do  not  sympathize 
with  the  keepers  and  frequenters  of  beer-gardens  in  their  effort  to  break  down  the 
respect  for  the  Lord's  day  which  is  a  characteristic  of  our  land.  There  has  recently 
been  a  demonstration  on  the  other  side,  called  out  by  the  introduction  of  the  bill 
before  the  Legislature  of  the  Stale  to  suppress  Sunday  amusements  in  the  theatres 
and  gardens.  It  was  a  most  ridiculous  failure,  as  the  following  report  which  we 
take  from  the  New  York  Times  will  show.  Not  only  are  the  I'espectable  class  of 
Germans  ashamed  of  this  opposition  to  the  Sabbath,  but  it  seems  that  the  enemies 
of  the  day  cannot  rely  upon  their  own  forces.     The  Times  of  March  29th  says  : 

The  response  was  not  very  cheering  to  the  call  in  the  German  papers  for  a  meet- 
ing yesterday,  in  Lindemuller's  Saloon,  to  oppose  the  passage  of  the  Sunday  Amuse- 
ments bill.  Our  reporter  remained  an  hour  after  the  time  advertised,  and  was  able 
to  count  only  sixteen  persons. 

Mr.  Lindemuller  was  displeased  at  the  indifference  or  opposition  of  the  Germans 
to  the  bill.  Here  are  a  thousand  German  musicians,  said  he,  who  are  paid  liberally 
for  their  Sunday  work  out  of  the  hard-earned  money  of  the  proprietors  of  theatres 
and  beer-gardens  ;  and  if  they  would  come  and  give  only  a  dollar  a  piece,  it  would 
make  a  fund  that  might  defeat  the  bill.  But  they  spend  the  money  in  the  pot- 
houses during  the  week  that  they  earn  on  Sunday,  and  we  can't  get  help  from 
them.  He  wished  with  all  his  heart  that  the  bill  might  pass  ;  and  he  would  himself 
become  a  spy  to  aid  its  execution,  so  as  to  punish  the  fellows  who  did  nothing  to 


4  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

prevent  it !     And  he  had  thought  of  getting  a  law  against  all  business  on  Sunday 
from  10  to  4  o'clock,  for  then  he  could  stop  preaching. 

All  present  abandon  the  hope  of  preventing  the  passage  of  the  bill.  One  said  that 
it  was  the/rtr/ner's  boys  from  the  country,  who  know  nothing  of  city  life,  whose  votes 
in  the  Legislature  made  such  laws.  Another  said  that  while  there  was  no  "  Church 
and  State  "  in  this  country,  the  religious  feeling  was  much  stronger  than  in  Europe, 
and  that  was  the  foundation  of  such  laws.  To  the  inquiry  whether  it  would  be  en- 
forced if  passed,  it  was  replied  that  Mayor  Wood  could  not  be  expected  to  help  them 
resist  a  plain  law.  Some  complaint  was  made  that  one  of  their  delegates  to  Albany 
had  charged  $50  and  another  $100,  for  two  or  three  days'  work,  and  it  was  agreed 
not  to  send  another.  The  suggestion  was  made  that  the  American  theatres  might 
be  induced  to  give  Sunday  performances,  which  would  strengthen  the  German  Anti- 
Sunday  cause.  Our  reporter  came  away  with  the  feeling  that  the  No-Sunday  move- 
ment among  the  Germans  is  not  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 


Extracted  from  The  Evangelist,  April  5. 

We  have  nothing  to  say  now  of  the  legislation  that  is  based  on  the  mere  chances 
of  party,  nor  of  the  peril  to  our  institutions  from  the  disposition  to  pander  to  vice 
and  iniquity  for  the  sake  of  votes.  We  wish  simply  to  suggest  the  inquiry  whether 
in  the  existing  state  of  parties,  a  practically  No-Sunday  position,  in  accordance  with 
the  claims  of  the  German  beer-garden  gentlemen,  will  be  likely  to  conciliate  more 
votes  than  it  will  alienate.  Politicians  underrate  the  numbers  and  the  strength  of 
the  moral  and  religious  element  in  the  city,  State,  and  country.  It  is  rarely  aroused. 
On  many  issues  it  would  be  divided — even  on  those  relating  to  the  Sunday  ques- 
tion. But  on  so  simple  an  issue  as  that  now  before  the  Legislature — the  suppression 
of  the  monstrous  system  of  Sunday  theatres,  associated  as  they  are  with  drinking, 
gambling,  and  prostitution — there  can  be  no  division  of  sentiment  or  action.  A 
party  that  should  arouse  that  sentiment  by  tampering  with  the  very  vice  sought 
to  be  suppressed,  would  destroy  its  prestige,  and  endanger  its  existence. 

There  were  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  1850  no  less  than  4,134  churches, 
having  accommodations  for  1,913,854  persons.  There  must  be  now  at  least  5,000 
churches,  having  at  least  800,000  members.  A  still  larger  number  of  attendants  on 
public  worship  and  friends  of  order  and  morals  may  be  counted  on  as  in  sympathy 
with  the  Christian  element  as  to  the  value  of  the  civil  Sabbath.  And  how  strong 
soever  may  be  the  political  affinities  of  this  million  and  a  half  of  our  population, 
there  are  tens  of  thousands  of  them — voters  too — whose  moral  and  religious  convic- 
tions are  still  stronger.  Whatever  may  be  true  of  city  members,  it  is  certain  that 
no  representative  of  the  people  from  the  interior  of  the  State  dare  face  his  constit- 
uency when  recreant  on  a  question  of  this  nature.  A  majority  even  of  the  German 
population  itself,  away  from  the  city — and  a  large  minority  here — as  earnestly  rep- 
robate the  Sunday  excesses  of  their  countrymen  as  do  the  best  American  citizens  ; 
and  no  surer  method  of  driving  them  from  a  party  could  be  adopted  than  to  hesi- 
tate on  a  question  of  simple  morals  at  the  beck  of  Sunday-theatre  proprietors. 

Another  fact  seems  to  be  overlooked  in  the  calculations  of  party  leaders.  The 
Religious  Newspapers  of  the  city  and  State,  with  an  aggregate  of  half  a  million 
subscribers,  are  a  unit  on  this  question.  It  would  be  with  extreme  reluctance, 
doubtless,  that  they  would  intervene  to  disturb  the  relations  of  political  parties ; 
but  a  manifest  sacrifice  of  public  morals  for  partisan  purposes  would  leave  them  no 
alternative.  A  rallying  cry  from  that  quarter  would  bring  thousands  of  men  into 
the  field  in  opposition  to  any  parly  that  should  choose  to  barter  away  the  Sabbath. 
And  the  respectable  secular  Press,  for  the  most  part,  would  be  true  to  the  ground  it 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  5 

has  taken  on  this  question,  adding  its  immense  influence  to  the  movement  for  re- 
sisting the  coalition  of  party  with  immorality  and  crime. 

We  would  adrise  the  managers  at  Albany  to  pause  before  they  render  it  neces- 
sary to  arouse  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath,  who  are  notoriously  the  friends  of  morals 
and  good  government.  Whether  Protestant  or  Papal,  native  or  foreign  born,  their 
convictions  are  settled  and  inßexible.  And  the  party  that  trifles  with  them  may 
gain  some  votes  of  rowdies  and  Sunday  beer-guzzlers,  but  it  will  disappear  before 
the  distrust  and  indignation  of  citizens  who  have  a  stake  in  a  government  of  law 
based  on  popular  intelligence  and  virtue. 

Action  of  Police  Commissioners. 

COPIES  OP  GENERAL  OEDERS. 

No.  186  :  New  York,  April  21,  1860. 

I  am  instructed  by  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Police,  to  direct  you  to  forth- 
with notify  all  persons  dealiug  in  intoxicating  liquors  in  your  Precinct,  that  they 
shall  not  publicly  expose  or  dispose  of  the  same  on  Sunday,  under  the  penalty  of 
fifty  dollars  for  each  offence  ;  and  if  such  persons  shall  after  such  notification  per- 
sist in  displaying  or  disposing  publicly  intoxicating  liquors,  to  arrest  them  in  the 
manner  prescribed  by  law  for  the  arrest  of  offenders. 

No.  1S9  :  New  York,  April  27,  1860. 

By  advertisement  in  the  newspapers,  and  by  personal  notice  to  the  Captains 
of  Police,  all  persons  in  the  city  of  New  York  have  been  informed  of  the  provi- 
sions of  the  Police  Act  which  makes  it  unlawful  to  publicly  dispose  of  intoxicating 
liquors  on  Sunday,  and  which  requires  the  police  to  arrest  all  persons  who  shall  so 
publicly  dispose  of  intoxicating  liquors  on  Sunday.  You  are  therefore  directed  to 
instantly  arrest  all  persons  who  shall  be  found  publicly  disposing  of  intoxicating 
liquors  on  Sunday. 

Repeated  inquiries  have  been  made  during  the  past  week  if  Lager  Beer  be  intox- 
icating liquor.  The  Board  of  Police  on  application  to  its  counsel  is  informed  that 
the  question  has  not  been  finally  adjudicated.-  It  has  been  held  in  several  instan- 
ces that  Lager  Beer  is  not,  while  in  other  cases  it  has  been  affirmed  to  be,  intoxicat- 
ing liquor.  In  view  of  these  contradictory  decisions  you  are  directed  not  to  make 
arrests  for  the  vending  of  Lager  Beer  until  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Police,  but  to 
make  complaint  as  usual  in  cases  of  persons  violating  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  the 
ordinances  of  the  local  authorities  in  respect  to  the  observance  of  Sunday. 

No.  190  :  New  York,  April  28,  1860. 

You  are  directed  to  cause  to  be  arrested,  on  Monday  morning  of  each  week, 
all  persons  who  shall  have  held  theatrical  or  other  entertainments  in  the  city  of  New 
York  on  the  previous  Sunday,  in  violation  of  the  act,  entitled,  an  act,  &c.,  passed 
April,  1860,  and  you  are  admonished  that  the  Board  of  Police  expect  the  prompt  and 
rigorous  enforcement  of  this  order. 

'^  It  would  appear  that  the  counsel  had  not  been  advised  of  the  recent  decision  in 
THE  Court  of  Appeals  affecting  this  question,  of  which  the  following  notice  has  been 
published  : 

THE  LICENSE  LAW— IMPORTANT    DECISION. 

(From  the  Coopersloion  Freeman'' s  Journal.) 
We  notice  by  the  published  decision  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  announced  at  the 
close  of  the  late  March  terra,  that  tlie  judgment  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  case 
of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Excise  of  Tompkins  county  agt.  Taylor  et  al., 
was  affirmed.  As  we  understand  the  question  in  that  case,  the  Court  of  Appeals  has 
decided  that  "  ale  and  strong  beer"  are  included  in  the  terms  "  strong  or  spirituous 


6  THE   PRESS   OF   NEW   YORK   ON   THE 

Organized  Kesistance  to  Law. 

From  The  Tribune,  May  1. 

MEETING  OF  GERMAN  INN-KEEPERS. 

A  meeting  of  upward  of  three  hundred  inn-keepers  was  held  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing at  the  "  Stadt  Theatre,"  in  the  Bowery,  fur  the  purpose  of  resisting  the  execu- 
tion of  the  Sunday  law,  Mr.  Leutz,  the  President,  in  the  chair.  This  was  the  second 
meeting  of  an  association  formed  a  week  ago,  with  the  motto,  "In  Union  there 
is  Strength."  The  rolls  of  membership  were  produced  and  circulated  until  280 
names  bad  been  written  therein,  each  member  in  advance  paying  a  heavy  in- 
itiation tax,  to  be  appropriated  for  lawsuits  and  fines.  They  all  bind  themselves 
thus  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  first  man  who  is  attacked  by  the  law,  and  to  see  him 
through  the  trial.  A  number  of  other  societies  already  exist  on  tlic  same  prin- 
ciple. There  is  one  defending  upward  of  a  tliousand  suits  for  selling  liquors  with- 
out license,  but  it  is  confidently  believed  by  the  saloon-keepers  that  they  will  never 
come  to  trial,  they  being  required,  notwithstanding,  to  give  bail  to  appear.  Prelimi- 
nary business  having  been  disposed  of,  various  speakers  expressed  their  views  aa 
to  the  best  course  to  be  pursued  under  the  circumstances.  The  meeting  was  kept 
up  for  several  hours,  and,  finally,  it  was  ngreed  to  make  a  compromise.  All  be- 
longing to  the  association  pledged  themselves  not  to  allow  any  gaming,  billiards, 
shooting,  dancing,  or  other  amusements  at  their  establishments;  and  the  saloons 
and  theatres  were  to  be  shut  up  entirely  between  the  hours  of  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Before  and  after  these  hours  it  was  stated 
they  had  been  assured  by  the  police  they  would  not  be  interfered  with  in  the 
manner  of  keeping  the  Sabbath.  Those  overstepping  these  regulations  were  not  to 
be  benefited,  in  case  of  a  prosecution,  by  the  treasury  of  the  association.  A  tax 
of  ten  cents  upon  every  barrel  of  lager  beer  sold,  it  is  expected,  will  bring  into  the 
treasury  from  S500  to  $1,000  weekly.     The  meeting  adjourned  for  one  week. 


liquors,"  as  used  in  the  Act  of  the  Legislature,  entitled  "  An  act  to  suppress  intem- 
perance and  to  regulate  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,"  passed  April  10,  1857. 

The  old  Court  of  Errors  decided  that  "  ale  and  strong  beer"  were  within  the  pro- 
hibition of  the  statute  then  in  force,  the  phraseology  of  which  was  like  the  present 
act,  (see  3d  Denio,  437,)  and  the  Supreme  Court  in  this  District,  at  the  July  term, 
1859,  decided  the  satne  question  now  affirmed  in  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  the  case  of 
the  Commissioners  of  E.Kcise  of  Madison  county  vs.  Hill.  This  decision  was  made 
the  law  of  this  District,  and  was  of  course  binding  on  the  Circuit  and  County  Courts 
within  its  jurisdiction  until  otherwise  determined  by  the  Court  of  Appeals — and  yet 
Judge  Turner,  in  his  charge  to  th  Grand  .Jury  at  the  February  term  of  the  County 
Court,  said  in  effect  that  it  was  competent  for  them  to  determine  whelher  tbey  would 
find  any  indictments  against  parties  charged  with  selling  strong  beer  without  a  li- 
cense, until  the  Court  uf  Appeals  should  finally  settle  the  question  at  issue  ! 

Il  is  now  held  to  be  llie  law  of  thin  Stale,  that  the  retailing  of"  ale  and  strong  beer, "  as  ivcll 
as  other  strong  or  spiriluouf  liquors,  or  innes,  in  quantities  less  than  five  gallons,  nithout  li- 
cense, renders  the  party  liable,  not  only  to  indictment,  but  to  be  sued  and  a  recovery  of  $50  had 
for  each  f/tass  sold.  Tavern  keepers,  druggists  and  store-keepers  who  have  complied 
with  the  act,  and  paid  for  licenses,  have  complained  of  the  unequal  working  of  the 
law,  while  other  parties  have  been  permitted  to  sell  ale  and  strong  beer  without  a 
license;  and  others  have  complained  that  the  clau-se  intended  to  prevent  the  sale  of 
any  intoxicating  li(iuors  on  the  Sabbath,  and  to  close  all  tippling  shops  on  that  day, 
has  been  actually  annulled.  In  New  York  the  number  of  Sunday  beer-shops  in- 
creased enormously  for  a  time. 


LAW   AGAINST  SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  7 

From  The  Times,  May  2. 

THE  GERMANS  AND  THE  SUNDAY  LAW. 

A  portion  of  our  German  fellow- citizens  are  resorting  to  practices  for  the  evasion 
•of  the  new  Sunday  law,  which  will  prove  neither  creditable  »lor  serviceable  to  their 
•cause.  Those  of  them  who  sell  beer  oJbject  very  strenuously  to  being  curtailed  of 
that  privilege  of  one  day  in  the  week,  and  have  formed  two  associations  for  the 
purpose  of  contesting  the  validity  of  the  law  and  disarming  the  vigilance  of  the 
police.  A  meeting  of  the  parties  concerned  was  held  at  the  Stadt  Theatre  on  Sat- 
urday, and  was  attended  by  nearly  forty  of  these  gentlemen.  A  tariff  of  twenty 
cents  a  barrel,  or  thereabouts,  was  imposed  on  the  Sunday  sales  of  lager,  to  be  ■ 
collected  on  Monday  morning,  and  expended  on  lawyers,  courts,  &c.,and  to  pro- 
tect the  confederates  in  violating  the  law. 

The  proprietors  of  the  theatrical  establishments  have  resorted  to  a  still  more 
discreditable  process.  They  pretend  to  have  established  a  new  religious  sect,  and 
under  cover  of  the  freedom  permitted  to  all  kinds  of  worship,  claim  the  right  to 
have  such  exercises  as  they  see  fit  on  Sunday.  M.  LindenmuUer,  who  seems  to  be 
one  of  the  least  scrupulous  and  most  shameless  of  these  persons,  has  published  a 
programme  of  his  purposes  ia  the  German  papers.  He  announces  that  he  has 
founded  a  new  free  German  church,  which  has  for  its  object  the  sanctification  of 
the  Sabbath,  the  instruction  of  the  people,  and  the  improvement  of  young  crimi- 
nals in  this  happy  land.  He  denies  that  he  intends  to  ridicule  religion,  but  he 
claims  the  right,  under  our  Constitution,  to  practise  any  religion  he  chooses".  A 
preacher  in  church  only  tells  you  from  the  Bible  that  if  good,  you  will  be  rewarded, 
if  evil,  punished,  in  this  world  and  the  next.  Any  man  who  acts  on  the  principl« 
of  doing  to  others  as  he  would  have  them  do  to  him',  does  not  need  this  assurance  ; 
and  any  one  who  does  not  act  upon  it  will  not  care  for  the  warning.  No  priest  can 
change  him.  He  has  more  fear  of  the  Judge  in  Centre-street  than  of  the  Judge  in 
Heaven.  "If,"  says  he,  "I  give  moral  representations  on  Sunday,  decent  and 
instructive,  I  am  a  preacher,  and  my  actors  are  orators  ;  no  church  is  anything  but 
a  different  kind  of  theatre."  He  announces,  therefore,  the  discourses  which  he 
and  his  colleagues  will  deliver — each  being  in  five  parts.  Ten  cents  is  to  be  paid 
for  admission  into  the  temple  ;  but  admission  to  the  garden — "under  the  eye  of 
God  and  the  free  sky" — is  free. 

ATHEISM   AVOWED. 

Under  this  announcement,  his  Shaker  congregation,  as  he  calls  them,  assembled  on 
Sunday  evening  last.  Towards  midnight— after  the  regular  performances— he  de- 
livered his  discourse,  and  was  a  good  deal  more  frank  than  he  had  been  in  his  pub- 
lished programme.  "  I  openly  confess,''  said  he  in  substance,  "  that  lam  an  Atheist. 
What  is  an  Atheist?  An  Atheist  bdieves  only  ivhat  he  sees.  Here  the  wealthy  classes 
have  seven  days  of  rest  in  ä  week,  instead  of  one,  as  we  have  ;  and  they  want  to 
take  away  from  us  this  one.  If  these  hypocrites  would  be  consistent,  they  must 
stay  away  from  the  church  on  the  Sabbath,  for  God  commanded,  as  they  say,  that 
they  should  rest  on  that  day.  Is  not  the  bawling  of  psalms  and  prayers  a  great 
labor  ?  But  all  labor  is  prohibited  to  them  on  the  Sabbath.  What  think  ye  of  the 
justice  of  God  ?  I  don't  think  much  of  it.  Would  a  jtmt  God  permit  an  unfortu- 
nate deaf  mute  to  suffer  for  the  eins  of  his  parents  ?  Pretty  justice,  that !  Do  you 
believe  in  miracles  ?    Do  you  believe  that  Moses  led  the  Egyptians  through  the 


8  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

Red  Sea?  That  Christ  fed  3,000  with  so  little  ?  I  have  fed  some  thousands,  bnt  it 
took  more  than  five  loaves  to  do  it.  These  cursed  priests  say  all  this  merely  for 
gain.  Don't  you  believe  that  if  they  could  get  more  money  by  establishing  the- 
atres, they  would  to-morrow  change  the  church  into  a  theatre,  and  engage  play- 
actors? Most  certainly  they  would.  Nothing  but  professional  envy  induces  them 
to  force  the  Sunday  law  upon  us.  Go  to  the  Bible  Society,  and  tell  them  you  need 
fifty'cents  for  a  poor  family  ;  verily,  you  would  not  get  it.  "We  must  multiply 
more  such  theatres  as  mine,  so  as  to  compete  with  the  churches  ;  and  then  the 
preachers  will  become  play-actors,  and  let  us  alone.'' 

Nearly  a  thousand  half-drunk  Germans  listened  to  and  applauded  these  Atheistic 
ravings  in  a  Sunday  Theatre,  in  the  interval  of  come  lies  performed  in  open, 
avowed  defiance  of  a  law  of  the  State,  passed  within  a  fortnight ! 

From  the  same,  May  8. 
ANOTHER  MEETING  OF  ANTI-LAW  GERMANS. 

A  loud  call  was  made  in  the  German  papers  of  Saturday,  for  a  rally  of  "  Import- 
ers and  Dealers  in  Wines  and  Liquors,  Brewers,"  and  Lagerbier-dom  generally,  as 
well  as  "  every  German  whose  means  will  allow,"  at  the  Stadt  Theatre,  in  the 
Bowery.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  gain  .strength  for  the  "  Anti-Sunday 
Association,"  and  to  settle  the  principle  that  "what  is  lawfully  allowed  on  so- 
called  week  days  shall  be  allowed  on  the  so-called  Sunday."  The  moderate  sum  of 
$1  is  received  for  membership  until  the  15th  May,  when  $3  will  be  charged. 

The  meeting  came  ofif  at  10  o'clock,  but  the  demonstration  corresponded  poorly 
with  the  promise  of  the  announcement.  Not  more  than  twenty  persons  were  pres- 
ent, and  it  was  stated  that  only  fifty-two  members  have  joined  the  Association. 
Even  the  amiable  keeper  of  the  Volks  Theatre,  Eustachi,  was  not  there,  but  Linden- 
muller  was.  Eustachi's  arrest,  on  Monday  last,  may  have  disgusted  him.  It  was 
stated  that  only  one  brewer  was  present.  The  proceedings  were  quite  fame.  It 
was  agreed  to  print  the  Constitution,  &c.,  so  as  to  awaken  the  sympathy  of  the 
hotel-keepers.  If  any  member  of  the  Association  is  arrested  for  Sunday  Theatricals, 
he  is  to  call  upon  Leutz  or  Hermann,  and  he  will  be  helped  out  of  the  scrape.  It 
was  stated  that  everything  depended  on  the  Captains  of  Precincts,  and  on  the  Police 

Justices,    Some  of  them  would  make  no  arrests  or  convictions.     Justice was 

alluded  to  as  specially  friendly  ;  and  if  they  could  manage  to  be  iaken  before  him, 
Üiey  would  he  certain  to  be  discharged.  [Perhaps  the  Patrolmen  will  thank  them  for 
this  information.] 

It  wa.s  announced  that  the  Stadt  Theatre  would  give  a  performance  on  Saturday 
night  for  the  benefit  of  the  rebellion  fund  ;  and  liadenmuller  and  Eustachi  are  to 
follow  suit. 

If  the  parties  interested  in  violating  law  cannot  get  up  more  formidable  demon- 
strations than  those  we  have  reported,  we  shall  soon  tire  of  the  task.  We  suppose 
the  fact  to  be,  that  while  some  thousands  of  Germans  are  not _im willing  to  carouse 
in  a  Sunday  theatre,  if  opened  to  them,  very  few  of  them  care  enough  about  It  to 
fight  the  battles  of  the  score  or  two  of  men  who  wish  to  pocket  the  profits  of  their 
dissipation.  A  little  vigor  on  the  part  of  the  police,  and  a  few  $500  fines  against 
owners,  keepers,  players,  and  all  concerned,  will  end  this  unequal  contest. 

From,  the  same,  April  30. 

THE  OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SUNDAY  LAW. 
The  Sunday  law,  notwithstanding  the  impetus  afforded  to,  its  violation  by  the 
excitement  occasioned  by  the  Great  International  Fight,  was  pretty  well  observed 
yesterday.     Certainly  it  was  not  so  openly  disregarded  as  on  the  previous  Sundays. 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC.  9 

The  prominent  offenders  were  located  in  Broadway,  and  in  the  leading  streets  a  few 
blocks  from  that  thoroughfare,  in  whose  "  Institutions ''  side-doors  were  open,  ingress, 
and  egress  made  feasible,  and  the  whipping  of  Satehs  by  Heenan  was  the  prominent 
topic  of  discourse.  That  discourse  had  to  be  "  washed  down,"  but  the  fear  of  the 
law  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors  prevented  the  admission  of  more  than  half  a 
dozen  disputants  at  one  time,  and  bolts  and  bars  were  prohibitive  to  any  but  "  the 
old,  familiar  faces."  The  keepers  of  every  drinking  saloon  were  notified  on  Satur- 
day night  that  the  penalties  of  the  law  would  be  fully  and  impartially  enforced,  in 
the  event  of  an  infraction  of  the  statute,  and,  in  consequence,  the  majority  of  the 
"dispensers  of  liquid  enjoyment"  closed  their  houses  altogether,  without  any 
deception  of  side-doors.  As  a  doubt  exists  with  the  Police  Commissioners  that 
lager  beer  is  an  intoxicating  drink,  the  members  of  the  force  were  directed  not  to 
arrest  the  proprietors  of  saloons  where  that  beverage  is  exclusively  sold,  but  merely 
to  report  them  for  future  action,  when  the  still-disputed  point  shall  have  been 
decided.  Accordingly  the  lager  beer  gardens  in  the  Bowery  and  other  streets  were 
overrun  with  customers  all  day  long,  and  an  extraordinary  quantity  of  that  bever- 
age was  sold.  Early  in  the  evening  the  usual  dramatic  and  musical  entertainments 
were  given  in  the  German  theatres  and  gardens.  With  the  proprietors,  however, 
the  police  did  not  interfere,  merely  contenting  themselves  with  a  sedulous  search 
for  offenders  of  this  sort,  all  of  whom  will  be  reported  to  the  District-Attorney. 
The  following  arrests  were  made,  the  prisoners  having  been  discharged  after  fur- 
nishing $300  bail :  Frederick  Dehlke,  No.  246  Delancey  street  ;  Louis  Bitjemann, 
No.  122  Canal  street ;  Thomas  Casey,  No.  300  East  Broadway  ;  Henry  Swartz,  No. 
57  Pike  street;  James  Casey,  corner  of  James  and  Madison  streets;  and  Ellen 
Sheehan,  Worth  street,  near  Centre. 

From  The  Evening  Post,  May  t. 
THE  OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SUNDAY  LAW. 
If  we  were  to  credit  fully  the  returns  of  the  police  and  the  items  of  some  of  the 
morning  papers,  we  should  believe  that  the  Sunday  liquor  and  amusement  law  has 
been  very  generally  observed.  If,  however,  we  go  behind  these,  and  learn  the  real 
facts  of  the  case,  we  shall  find,  that  while  there  has  been  in  numerous  instances,  a 
pretended  observance  of  the  law,  it  has  been  so  evaded  and  secretly  violated  that  it 
has,  in  fact,  been  virtually  nullified. 

Not  only  is  this  the  case,  but  the  instances  are  numerous  in  which  it  has  been 
openly  set  at  defiance.  The  Bowery,  last  night,  was  as  lively  as  the  mo.st  deter- 
mined enemy  of  the  law  could  desire  ;  and  while  some  of  the  small  places  were 
closed,  the  large  ones  were  in  full  blast. 

Volks-Garten,  the  great  Sunday  evening  resort  for  our  Teutonic  population, 
where  they  take  their  families  and  drink  lager  beer  and  Rhine  wine,  had  an  audi- 
ence of  not  less  than  two  thousand  persons,  and  the  waiters  were  busy  until  mid- 
night, in  dispensing  the  forbidden  beverage.  The  billiard  tables,  shooting  gallery, 
&c.,  were  incessantly  patronized,  while  the  performances  on  the  stage  elicited  loud 
applause. 

Many  other  places  were  less  lively,  only  because  less  extensive.  At  Hoym's 
Theatre  a  notice  was  posted  in  German  and  English,  to  the  effect  that  a  new  relig- 
ious society  called  "German  Shakers"  met  there,  and  that  none  but  members 
were  admitted.  It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  add  that  this  was  a  mere  rwse  for  sup- 
plying drinks  to  the  thirsty. 

Around  the  Central  Park  booths  were  erected,  and  beer  sold  without  restraint. 

The  police  made  a  few  arrests  yesterday  for  violation  of  the  law  ;  but  it  is  worthy 
of  note  that  these  were  among  the  keepers  of  small  and  comparatively  unimportant 


10  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

places.  Some  of  our  officers  seem  to  be  troubled  with  visual  obliquity  in  passing 
the  establisliments  of  powerful  and  wealthy  proprietors  ;  but  when  they  come  to  a 
wretch  who  has  neither  money  nor  friends,  the  majesty  of  the  law  is  vindicated. 

From  The  Express,  May  21. 
THE  SUNDAY  LAW  AND  THE  POLICE. 
In  another  part  of  our  paper  will  be  found  a  full  report  of  thfe  principal  places 
about  town  whose  scandalous  misdoings  on  the  Sabbath  was  just  the  occasion  of  the 
new  Sunday  Law,  and  which  g  ive  direct  point  and  bearing  to  its  enactment.  Dis- 
reputable and  profane  as  these  things  have  heretofore  been  represented  to  be,  we 
were  not  prepared  for  the  truth,  in  its  full  extent,  as  presented  in  our  report  of 
these  disgraceful  scenes  and  orgies.  It  is  doubtful  if  one  in  a  thousand  of  our 
orderly  citizens  have  even  a  faint  idea  of  the  seductive  and  abominable  dens  thrown 
wide  open  on  the  Sabbath,  witli  all  their  degrading  and  demoralizing  influences,  to 
the  youth  of  the  city  ;  our  youth,  who  are  hereafter  to  be  our  men,  our  guides  and 
exemplars.  The  contemplation  is  a  fearful  one.  There  is  something  either  very 
ridiculous,  or  very  outrageous,  in  the  sufferance  of  these  things,  and  the  public 
should  demand  that  the  intention  of  the  law  be  enforced  at  all  hazards. 

Mode  of  Dealing  with  Sunday  Liquor  Dealers 
in  Baltimore,  Md. 

Judge  Stump  having  been  impeached  for  drunkenness  and  want  of  fidelity  to  his 
official  duties,  and  Justice  Bond  having  been  appointed  as  City  Judge  of  Baltimore, 
one  of  the  first  steps  in  restoring  public  order  and  morality  has  been  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic. 

In  the  "  BdUimore  Exchange ''  of  April  25,  we  find,  in  a  notice  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Criminal  Court,  n  any  items  like  the  following  : 

"  State  vs.  John  Hoflman,  indicted  for  selling  liquor  without  license.  The  court 
thought  the  establishment  ought  to  be  broken  up,  declared  the  traverser  guilty,  and 
ordered  him  to  pay  fine  of  $200,  and  costs  ;  total,  $217.25.  Jeremiah  Dillon, 
indicted  for  selling  liquor  without  license.  Tried  before  the  court,  guilty.  Fine 
and  costs,  158.57.  Jacob  Petrie,  against  whom  three  indictments  were  pending  for 
selling  liquor  on  Sunday,  forfeited  his  recognizance,  and  a  fine  of  $50  and  costs  in 
each  case  was  imposed  on  his  bondsmen.  Jolin  Kohlis,  charged  with  selling  liquor 
on  Sunday,  was  fined  (two  indictments)  $G7.14.  A  large  number  of  indictments 
for  selling  liquor  on  Sunday,  and  without  license,  will  be  disposed  of  to-day." — 
Lawlessness  has  ceased  with  the  suppression  of  a  lawless  business. 

Comments  of  the  Daily  Press. 

From  The  Tribune,  April  25. 
SUNDAY  LAWS. 
The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly,  have 
seen  fit,  we  may  say  from  time  immemorial,  to  enact  that  the  fir^  day  of  the  week, 
commonly  called  Sunday,  sliould  be  peculiarly  a  day  of  rest.  On  that  day  no  man 
need  fear  an  arrest  for  debt,  or  the  service  of  any  civil  process  ;  no  man  is  required 
to  serve  on  juries,  to  attend  court  as  a  witness,  or  (in  time  of  peace)  to  perform 
military  duty.  It  is  empliatically  the  poor  man's  day — his  weekly  day  of  exemp- 
tioa  from  ordinary  labor — a  day  on  which  he  may  enjoy  fully  the  society  of  his  wife 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC.  11 

and  children.  We  believe  that,  if  all  peculiar  respect  for  it  were  obliterated,  the 
majority  of  the  poor  would  work  sevea  days  per  weeli  for  no  more  average  wages 
than  they  now  receive  for  six,  and  that  their  moral,  physical,  and  pecuniary  condi- 
tion, would  be  decidedly  worse  than  it  now  is.  We  hold  it,  tlierefore,  the  clear 
interest  of  tiie  Laboring  Class  as  such  to  uphold  and  insist  on  the  present  legal 
Uatus  of  Sunday. 

This  day  of  the  week  is  also  regarded  with  peculiar  reverence  and  honor  by  the 
great  majority  of  the  Christian  world  as  that  on  which  their  Saviour  rose  from  the 
dead.  Some  of  them — we  believe  a  majority — regard  it  further  as  bearing,  by 
transference,  the  peculiar  sanctity  anciently  attached  to  the  seventh  day  of  the 
week,  or  Saturday,  as  that  whereon  God  rested  from  his  work  of  creation  and  hal- 
lowed it.  Most;  Christian  sects  and  churches  celebrate  Divine  worship  in  public  on 
this  day  ;  but  this  is  a  matter  of  free  personal  choice,  with  which  the  law  of  our 
State  does  not  concern  itself.  We  trust,  however,  that  any  fair,  liberal  man,  no 
matter  of  what  creed,  or  of  none,  will  say,  "  If  the  State  sees  fit  to  declare  and 
maintain  a  weekly  day  of  rest  from  all  ordinary  labor,  then  it  is  but  reasonable  and 
just  to  select  for  the  purpose  that  day  which  the  largest  number  of  our  people  con- 
secrate (at  least  in  part)  to  religious  instruction,  meditation,  and  communication 
with  God." 

If  there  were  any  attempt  to  make  people  religious  by  law — to  compel  them  to 
attend  church,  or  to  participate  in  devotional  exercises  of  any  kind — -we  should 
strenuously  resist  it.  We  stand  for  freedom  not  merely  in  religion,  but  in  irreligion. 
We  insist  that  an  Atheist  shall  be  not  merely  allowed-,  but  required  to  testify  in 
courts  of  justice  precisely  like  any  other  man,  leaving  his  want  of  religion  to  he 
shown  and  allowed  to  have  such  weight  as  it  may  be  deemed  to  deserve.  There  are 
a  great  many  sceptics  whose  word  will  go  further — because  it  is  worth  more — than 
that  of  many  avowed  believers.  Let  us  have  freedom  in  all  things  but  doing  evil ; 
but  freedom  to  fling  stones  through  the  windows  of  a  church,  upon  the  bowed 
heads  of  a  worshipping  congregation,  seems  to  us  carrying  the  thing  rather  far  ; 
and  we  do  not  see  that  it  would  be  less  wrong  to  disturb  them  by  drunken  yells  and 
snatches  of  obscene  or  ribald  songs.  It  seems  to  us  that  even  gentlemanly  infidels 
should  say  :  "  Since  the  Christian  majority  wish  to  be  undisturbed  ia  their  devo- 
tions on  Sunday,  we  will  so  order  our  pursuits  as  to  give  them  no  needless  annoy- 
ance.'' So  much  the  law  of  our  State  requires  of  her  citizens  :  we  cannot  tliiuk  it 
too  much.  But,  says  an  objector,  "  You  quietly  assume  that  the  Sunday-upholders 
are  a  majority."  Yes,  we  do.  The  fact  that  our  laws  have  uniforijily  assumed  it, 
yet  have  stood  substantially  unchanged  in  this  respect,  is  to  our  mind  conclusive. 
But  we  freely,  cheerfully  concede  the  right  of  the  opponents  of  the  civil  Sabbath  to 
make  up  an  issue  on  the  subject,  and  try  conclusions  before  the  grand  inquest  of  the 
People.  If  the  anti-Sabbatarians  choose  to  make  such  an  issue,  though  we  must 
go  against  them,  we  shall  respect  their  frankness,  and  endeavor  to  give  them  fair 
play. 

But  the  course  they  see  fit  usually  to  follow  does  not  command  our  respect. 
They  are  perpetually  barking  at  the  heels  of  the  Sabbath,  not  looking  it  square  in 
the  face.  They  talk  of  "  Aminadab  Sleek,"  "  the  Saints,"  "  pious  Pillsbury,''  &c., 
&c.,  all  of  which  sounds  to  us  like  very  cowardly  and  rather  dirty  slang.  So  do 
their  outcries  against  each  attempt  to  enforce  some  tolerable  respect  for  the  Sab- 
bath, as  if  it  were  an  entirely  new  device,  when,  in  fact,  it  is  but  requiring  obedi- 
ence to  laws  wliich  have  existed  in  substance  for  generations.  It  surely  cannot  be 
necessary  to  state  that  keeping  theatres,  tippling-houses,  &c. ,  in  full  blast  on  Sun- 
day, is  not  legal  in  this  State,  and  has  not  been  at  any  time  during  the  thirty  years 
we  have  lived  in  it — how  much  longer,  we  will  not  now  say.     All  recent  legislation 


12  THE  PRESS  OP  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

on  the  subject  has  consisted  simply  of  attempts  to  stop  evasions  or  open  violations 
of  original  provisions  of  the  Revised  Statutes.  The  act  recentlj^  passed  is  nothing 
more. 

We  say,  then,  to  the  anti-Sabbatarians,  If  you  deem  yourselves  men,  be  manly  ! 
Make  a  square  issue,  if  you  will,  on  the  abolition  of  all  State  laws  which  distinguish 
Sunday  from  other  days,  and  if  the  people  are  with  you,  their  votes  will  show  it. 
If  you  do  not  choose  to  abolish  all  civil  recognition  of  the  Sabbath,  agree  among 
yourselves  as  to  what  portions  of  those  laws  you  will  have  repealed,  make  a  dis- 
tinct, square  issue  thereon,  and,  if  your  requirement  is  reasonable,  you  need  not 
fear  an  adverse  decision.  But  this  growling,  and  snarling,  and  calling  names,  is 
sorry  business  ;  and,  if  you  have  nothing  better  to  say,  it  were  wiser  and  better  to 
keep  silence. 

From  The  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  3. 
OUR  GERMANS— LAW,  OR  NO  LAW? 

We  inserted  on  Monday  a  notice  of  an  organization  of  the  "  German  Anti-Sun- 
day Law  Association  "  without  comment.  Had  it  been  an  association  to  effect  the 
repeal  or  the  modification  of  a  Sunday  law  or  any  other  law,  we  should  not  have 
returned  to  it.  But  as  a  class-combination,  avowedly  to  resist  the  enforcement  of 
an  existing  statute,  this  organization,  and  the  action  last  Sunday  of  its  several 
members  in  defiance  of  our  authorities,  demand  the  attention  of  the  press  and  the 
public. 

The  antecedent  facts  out  of  which  this  association  sprung  are  briefly  these  :  With 
the  increase  of  European  emigrants  gradually  arose  a  system  of  Sunday  amuse- 
ments previously  unknown  in  this  country.  The  large  measure  of  liberty  here 
enjoyed,  rendei-ed  still  larger  by  an  undisciplined  police  and  the  concealment  of  a 
foreign  language,  at  last  degenerated  into  the  grossest  license.  Sunday  had  come 
to  be  preeminently  the  day  of  dissipating  sports  and  of  personal  indulgence.  The 
beer-saloon  grew  into  the  theatre,  and  the  theatre  into  a  pandemonium  of  gambling, 
dancing,  and  nameless  vices.  Many  such  establishments,  thronged  by  thousands  of 
the  youth  of  both  sexes,  and  by  the  vicious  of  all  classes,  at  length  compelled  the 
attention  o£  the  community  to  the  tendencies  of  such  a  skilful  system  of  popular 
demoralization. 

When  the  parallel  wrong  of  the  Sunday  liquor-traffic  was  exposed,  it  was  thought 
that  a  proper  enforcement  of  the  law  would  dry  up  both  of  these  sources  of  evil. 
But  it  was  fourwi  that  men  who  were  pocketing  hundreds  of  dollars  every  Sunday, 
could  laugh  at  the  trifling  penalties  which  restrained  smaller  offenders,  and  that 
new  legislation  v?as  demanded,  to  control  adequately  these  mammoth  establish- 
ments. A  law  for  this  purpose  passed  the  Legislature,  but  in  a  form  not  satisfactory 
to  Governor  Morgan,  and  he  returned  it  with  his  objections — expres.sly  approving, 
however,  its  Swiday  provisions.  Another  bill,  relating  simply  to  the  peace  and 
order  of  Sunday,  was  put  on  its  passage.  It  was  bitterly  opposed  by  the  parties 
interested  in  Sunday  amusements  ;  but  became  a  law  on  the  last  day  of  the  session. 
The  Police  authorities  have  entered  on  its  execution— whether  with  needful  delib- 
eration, and  in  the  wisc.«t  manner,  need  not  here  be  discussed. 

Now,  with  all  allowance  for  imperfect  acquaintance  with  our  laws  and  institu- 
tions on  the  part  of  recent  comers  from  other  lands,  it  would  seem  that  common 
prudence  would  restrain  our  German  friends  from  direct  conflict  with  our  authori- 
ties, in  a  case  where  American  public  sentiment  is  clearly  embodied  in  a  statute  of 
the  State.  So  long  as  they  braved  that  sentiment  by  acts  obnoxious  only  to  the 
moral  sense  of  the  community,  and  perhaps  offensive  to  the  common  law,  it  was 
simply  a  breach  of  the  peace  ;  discourteous  and  ungrateful  enough,  indeed,  but 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC.  13 

capable  of  being  palliated  on  the  score  of  old-world  customs.  But  now  that  the 
convictions  of  the  overwhelming  majority  of  the  people  of  this  country — including 
the  body  of  the  German  immigrants  themselves — have  crystallized  into  statutory 
law,  it  is  little  better  than  bald  rebellion  to  combine  for  mutual  protection  in 
openly  violating  that  law  and  defying  the  authorities  who  are  bound  to  enforce  it. 

Aside  from  the  urgent  motive  of  self-interest,  and  the  unwillingness  to  give  up  a 
profitable  business,  probably  two  considerations  incite  to  the  dangerous  policy  of 
resistance.  One  is,  the  hope  of  party  capital  or  partisan  intervention.  That  hope 
is  delusive  ;  corrupt  as  parties  have  become,  no  party  in  this  country  dare  hang  the 
mill-stone  around  its  neck  of  a  no-Sunday  issue.  Then  the  precedent  of  the  Maine- 
Law  failure  has  already  been  adduced  by  the  Sunday  Press  to  stimulate  the  German- 
Theatre  men  in  their  lawless  zeal.  But  a  moment's  reflection  must  dispel  that 
hope.  The  Maine  Law  was  an  anomaly,  sweeping  in  its  provisions,  defective  in  its 
structure,  and  oppressive  in  its  operation.  The'  Sunday-Theatre  Law  is  in  harmony 
with  the  legislation  of  all  our  States,  from  the  foundation  of  our  Government. 
Public  sentiment  revolted  at  the  enforcement  of  the  former  :  it  demands  the  execu- 
tion of  the  latter.  The  German  press  may  not  have  interpreted  either  American  or 
German  sentiment  aright,  to  the  keepers  or  frequenters  of  Sunday  Theatres  ;  but 
we  can  tell  them  that  there  is  a  calm,  determined  purpose  among  the  masses  of 
right-minded  citizens,  of  all  classes  and  parties,  that  the  day  of  rest  and  worship 
shall  be  freed  from  play-acting,  dancing,  gambling,  and  the  innumerable  immoral- 
ities which  cluster  around  the  Sunday  Theatre  and  Beer  Garden.  Eesistance  to 
that  purpose  will  prove  as  vain  as  it  is  ill-mannered  and  rebellious. 

If  our  Teutonic  friends  think  us  mistaken  in  our  judgment  of  public  opinion  on 
this  question,  they  have  a  palpable  method  of  testing  the  question,  without  trying 
their  strength  with  our  government  and  people.  They  can  renew  their  agitation 
for  the  repeal  of  all  Sunday  Laws.  Nobody  will  hinder  them.  But,  until  they 
succeed  in  that,  they  will  consult  their  own  good  and  honor  the  German  name  by 
obeying,  under  protest  if  they  please — the  laws  as  they  are.  Their  appeals  to  the 
law  for  protection  would  come  with  an  ill  grace  if  they  do  not  respect  and  obey 
law.  On  every  account,  let  those  who  have  profited  so  long  by  a  monopoly  of  Sab- 
bath-breaking sports,  content  themselves  with  their  gains,  and  fall  into  the  line  of 
all  other  trades,  which  content  themselves  with  the  earnings  of  six  days,  without 
trenching  on  "  the  poor  man's  day  " — the  Lord's  Day. 

From  the  Courier  and  Enquirer,  May  4.    • 

GERMAN  ATHEISTS. 

The  most  intelligent  and  influential  German  paper  in  this  country  once  claimed 
for  its  emigrant  countrymen  the  position  of  atheistic  preeminence.  Its  language 
was:  "  Every  one  who  knows  our  share  in  the  progress  of  science  and  philosophy, 
knows  that  among  our  people,  who  stand  nearer  to  the  atheistic  view  than  any  other  in  the 
world,  piety  and  morals  are  more  strictly  separated  than  among  nations  whose  book 
of  life  is  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  alone." 

We  should  not  dispute  this  statement  were  it  restricted  in  its  terms  to  the  class 
of  emigrants  of  the  Red  Eepublican  type  of  1848.  As  applied  to  the  Germany 
of  the  present,  or  the  German  immigrants  as  a  whole,  it  is  unsupported  by  facts. 
That  it  aptly  characterizes  a  large  class  in  our  great  cities,  especially  in  New  York, 
cannot  be  denied.  With  some  exceptions,  the  Sunday  beer-garden  gentry  belong 
to  "  the  people  who  stand  nearer  to  the  atheistic  view"  than  anybody  else ;  but 
without  that  marked  "  separation  of  piety  and  morals,"  alleged  by  the  Zeitung.  Their 
morals  and  their  godless  creed  are  intimately  allied.  Eecognizing  no  Great  First 
cause — "  believing  only  what  they  see" — rejecting  any  rule  of  right,  but  their  own 
will — acknowledging  no  law — reckless  of  present  duty  or  future  retribution, — a 


14  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

more  material,  sensual,  unprincipled  set  of  viauvnis  suj'ets  never  left  a  despotism  to 
curse  a  Republic.  They  number  many  men  of  thorough  University  education  ; 
men  with  talents  and  acquirements  for  high  positions  in  literary  or  political  life. 
But  their  atheistic  "  piety,"  and  their  consequent  want  of  decent  "  morals,"  have 
plunged  them  into  depths  of  wickedness,  and  made  them  leaders  of  their  country- 
men in  paths  of  dissipation  and  folly. 

It  was  only  last  Sunday  night  that  one  of  these  dangerous  men  stood  up  before  a 
thousand  Germans  congregated  in  his  Sunday  theatre,  and  when  they  had  imbibed 
lager  and  witnessed  vulgar  comedies  enough  to  prepare  them  for  hia  ravings,  avow- 
ed himself  an  Atheist,  defining  his  creed  to  be  that  of  one  who  "  believes  only  what 
he  sees,''  and  then  pouring  out  his  blasphemies  on  the  Bible,  the  clergy,  and  the 
people  who  keep  Sunday  and  "  bawl  psalms  and  prayers  !" 

He  is  a  "representative  man,"  though  a  little  exaggerated.  The  great  body  of 
the  hordes  who  are  systematically  trampling  on  our  American  Sabbath,  and  who  are 
now  banded  together  to  defy  the  recent  Act  against  Sunday  Theatricals,  are  sub- 
stantially of  this  class.  Some  of  them  have  grown  wealthy  on  their  immoral  gains. 
Some  of  them  have  influence  as  politicians.  Most  of  them  despise  the  institutions 
of  their  adopted  country,  and  are  as  anarchiceil  in  their  views  of  government,  as  they 
are  atheistical  in  their  religious  creed,  and  corrupt  in  their  ethical  notions.  They 
have  even  provided  a  school  system,  extending  to  all  the  principal  cities,  and  num- 
bering scores  of  teachers  and  many  hundreds  of  pupils,  in  New  York,  avowedly  to  in- 
culcate atheistic  vieivs  of  " piety  and  morals  f^  and  the  GevmAU  daily  pres^s  is  largely 
committed  to  infidel,  if  not  atheistic  sentiments — without  a  single  daily  journal, 
so  far  as  we  can  learn,  to  defend,  or  even  explain,  Christianity,  or  a  Christian  mo-' 
rality. 

It  is  such  an  interest— foreign  to  the  spirit  and  genius  of  our  country,  and  hostile 
to  every  vital  element  within  our  borders — that  has  ventured  to  try  its  strength 
with  our  laws  and  magistracy,  in  the  persistent  violation  of  the  recent  Act  to  pre- 
serve tiie  public  peace  and  order  on  Sunday.  'J'he  establislnnents  started  in  Broad- 
way and  elsewhere,  under  American  auspices,  in  imitation  of  the  German  beer 
gardens,  have  now  closed  their  doors,  we  believe,  on  the  Sabbath.  But  atheistic 
Germans  stand  out  and  defy  the  police.  They  have  chosen  to  present  an  issue 
which  our  authorities  and  people  can  only  decline  by  the  abandonment  of  a  govern- 
ment of  law,  and  a  surrender  of  the  city  into  the  hands  of  atheistic  Sabbath-breakers, 
and  Europeans  at  that.  No  :  we  can  do  no  such  thing.  The  law  must  be  enforced, 
and  promptly  enforced.  If  a  majority  of  the  people  of  this  State  choose  to  give  up 
the  principle  of  protecting  the  Civil  Sabbath  by  legislation,  at  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Legislature,  so  as  to  enable  these  Sunday  Theatr«  gentlemen  to  pocket  their 
profits — let  it  be  so.  But  a  wise  and  needful  statute,  consistent  with  those  existing 
from  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country,  stands  on  record  ;  a  vast  police  system 
is  charged  with  its  enforcement ;  the  public  good  demands  firm  and  persistent 
action  ;  and,  unless  atheism  ends  in  anarchy  here  as  elsewhere,  we  shall  soon  see 
the  end  of  the  iniquitous  and  indefensible  system  of  Sunday  Theatricals. 

l^rom  The  Times,  May  22. 

THE  SUNDAY  LAW  AND  THE  GERMAN  PRESS. 
The  cry  of  Religious  Freedom  always  so  captivating,  has  been  raised  by  a  great 
number  of  the  so-called  Anti-Sabbatarians,  who  insist  on  ignoring  the  real  charac- 
ter and  basis  of  the  laws  protecting  the  Sabbath.  Instead  of  accepting  the  obvious 
and  uniform  interpretation  given  by  their  supporters,  and  recognized  by  our  Courts, 
or  of  discriminating  as  to  their  practical  operation,  it  has  been  maintained  by  both 
American  and  German  journals,  within  a  week,  that  "  the  Sabbath  is  not  a  political, 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY  THEATRES,   ETC.  15 

nor  a  civil,  but  a  religious  institution  ;''  and  tbat  "  the  Sabbatarians  intend  to  make 
the  civil  power  subservient  to  the  Church,  and  will  soon  compel  every  man  to  go  to 
church  on  that  day,  or  mulct  him  in  a  penalty  for  his  disobedience."  Reams  of 
paper  have  been  spoiled  in  asserting  the  "  uncons^itulionalily'^  of  all  such  statutes. 
Were  the  laws  what  they  are  represented  to  be,  or  were  the  Constitution  the  mu- 
tilated, perverted  thing  claimed,  there  "might  be  ground  for  the  clamor  against  both. 
But  in  truth,  both  the  laws  and  the  Constitution  have  been  shamefully  misrepre- 
sented. And  in  point  of  fact,  the  constitutional  objection  has  been  almost  univer- 
sally based  on  the  first  clause  of  Art.  I,  sec  3,  ["  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment 
of  religious  profession  and  worship,  without  discrimination  or  preference,  shall  for- 
ever be  allowed  in  this  state  to  all  mankind:"]  without  any  reference  to  the  con- 
cluding clause  of  the  same  section,  which,  of  itself,  nullifies  every  claim  for  Sunday 
license  on  the  score  of  religious  freedom.  One  honorable  exception  to  this  rule  we 
find  in  the  able  leader  of  the  Staats  Zeitung  of  May  3  ;  and  this  leader  is  worthy  of 
examination,  both  as  a  specimen  of  German  logic,  and  because  of  its  relation  to  the 
conflict  of  the  Sunday  theatre  gentry  with  a  recent  law  of  this  State. 

After  scouting  the  Republican  doctrine  "  of  submission  to  the  will  of  majorities," 
the  Staats  Zeitung  proceeds : 

"  Our  Constitution  contains  a  passage  on  which  the  contest  against 'the  Sunday 
law,  as  an  unconstitutional  one,  may  be  based.  In  Art.  I,  Sec.  3,  religious  liberty 
is  sanctioned,  and  the  following  clause  added  :  '  But  the  liberty  of  conscience  hereby 
secured  shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness  or  justify  practices  in- 
consistent icith  the  peace  or  safety  of  the  Slate.'  This  clause  shows  in  the  first  place,  by 
the  mere  fact  of  its  existence,  that  liberty  of  conscience  is  not  to  be  limited  in  any 
other  way  than  the  one  mentioned  here  ;  for  if  other  limitations  were  intended  they 
would  have  been  stated.  Furthermore,  this  clause,  on  which  the  '  Sabbatarians' 
may  rest,  bears  on  its  very  face  that  the  liberty  of  conscience,  which  it  defines, 
leaves  every  one  perfectly  free  to  recognize  the  religious  obligations  of  the  Sabbath 
or  not,  just  as  he  may  choose.  By  '  acts  of  licentiousness'  manifestly  are  meant 
acts  directly  hostile  to  social  order  ;  the  practice  of  polygamy,  for  example.  By 
acts  which  endanger  '  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  State,'  political  intrigues  of  relig- 
ious sects  are  meant,  in  order  that  religious  liberty  may  not  be  perverted  to  shelter 
high  treason,  as,  for  instance,  monarchical  conspiracies.  These  things,  which  are 
contrary  to  the  general  social  order,  as  it  exists  every  day,  and  not  on  Sunday  alone, 
cannot  be  permitted  under  the  pretence  of  religious  liberty.  And  this  general  social 
order  plainly  refers  only  to  political  and  civil  institutions  ;  not  at  all  to  convention- 
al usages.  To  work  by  day  and  sleep  by  night  is  such  a  conventional  usage,  and  a 
pretty  common  one.  But  has  any  Legislature  the  right  to  pass  a  law  by  whibh  labor 
at  night  shall  be  forbidden  to  adults  ?  Now  the  Sabbath  is  not  a  political  n&r  a 
civil,  but  a  religious  institution.  Its  observance  is  a  conventional  usage  of  several 
religious  sects.  To  deviate  from  this  usage  falls,  therefore,  within  the  province  of 
religious  libertj',  and  the  Legislature  has  no  right  to  decree  anything  in  this  matter. 
For  these  reasons  the  constitutionality  of  this  and  every  other  Sunday  law  can  be 
contested,  and  may  it  be  contested  with  all  energy.  Away  with  the  Republican 
theory  of  the  absolute,  uncontrolled  will  of  the  majority.'' 

We  have  translated  enough  fairly  to  unfold  the  views  of  our  German  contemporary 
— views  clearly  stated,  and  enforced  with  becoming  arguments  and  in  a  dignified 
temper.  These  views  embrace  a  very  novel  theory  of  an  American  State  Constitu- 
tion— a  theory,  we  venture  to  say,  that  would  be  just  as  novel  to  its  framera  and 
'legal  interpreters  as  it  must  be  to  all  readers  trained  in  a  Christian  Republic.  But 
this  is  not  all.     They  involve  also  a  radically  mistaken  idea  of  the  institution  itself, 


16  THE   PRESS   OF   NEW   YORK   ON   THE 

the  relations  of  which  are  under  discussion.  "  The  Sabbath,"  we  are  told,  "  is  not 
a  political,  nor  a  civil,  but  a  religious  institution."  So  far  is  this  from  the  truth, 
that  no  Sunday  law  on  our  statute-book  recognizes  the  religious  designation  of  the 
day  as  the  "  Sabbath  ;"  it  is  always  described  as  "  the  first  day  of  the  week  common- 
ly called  Sunday.''  It  is  solely  as  a  ^' civil  institution"  that  our  laws  relate  to  the 
Sabbath,  or  attempt  to  guard  it  from  invasion.  Civilized  society,  acting  under  the 
instinct  of  self-preservation,  and  hedged  about  by  the  necessities  of  our  physical, 
social,  and  moral  being,  must  have  rest  from  toil  ;  time  for  the  repose  of  the  body  ; 
opportunities  of  intellectual  and  moral  recreation  ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of  society  to 
protect  itself  and  its  several  members  from  disturbance  and  unusual  temptation  to 
dissipation  and  vice  on  its  day  of  rest.  Society,  enacting  laws  to  this  end,  needs 
and  must  have  some  moral  basis  o  these  and  of  all  other  laws.  In  America  we 
accept,  not  the  Pagan,  or  the  Mohammedan,  or  the  Mormon,  but  the  Christian  code, 
with  its  institution  of  marriage,  its  oath,  and  its  peculiar  day  of  rest  and  devotion — 
less  as  religious  rights  than  as  civil  necessities.  Here,  then,  is  furnished  us  an  ade- 
quate basis  for  our  existing  Sunday  laws,  without  raising  the  question  of  religious 
obligation  and  observance  at  all ;  this  particular  question  being  left  by  the  letter 
and  spirit  of  the  statutes,  and  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  all  religious  sects, 
solely  to  the  domain  of  the  individual  conscience. 

It  is  true,  indeed,  that  this  civil  Sabbath  is  also  regarded  by  the  great  body  of 
Christian  citizens  as  a  "  religious  institution,''  and  observance  cheerfully  rendered 
to  it  as  a  sacred  day  by  millions  of  our  population.  But  it  is  not  in  this  aspect  of 
the  season  that  legal  protection  has  been  asked  for  or  given  to  it.  Like  marriage, 
before  whose  sanctities  our  laws  throw  their  protecting  segis,  by  prescribing  the 
conditions  of  the  civil  contract  and  prohibiting  infractions  of  the  seventh  command- 
ment, while  leaving  its  religious  obligations  to  the  conscience  enlightened  by  the 
Christian  teacher,  so  the  Sabbath  lends  its  humanizing,  elevating  influences  to 
society,  and  asks  from  it  in  return  only  protection  enough  to  secure  its  beneficent 
existence  and  perpetuity. 

But  is  either  the  Sabbath  or  marriage  any  the  less  a  boon  to  the  material  and 
temporal  interests  of  mankind  in  civilized  society,  because  the  one  is  reverenced 
by  many  Christians  as  a  sacrament,  and  the  other  synchronizes  with  the  season  set 
apart  by  the  vast  majority  of  Christians  for  worship?  Would  the  Sabbath,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  be  more  of  a  boon,  if  none  of  the  restraints  of  law  or  custom  pre- 
vented capitalists  and  employers  from  compelling  their  workmen  into  seven  days' 
toil  for  six  days'  pay — a  result  which  would  inevitably  flow  from  the  repeal  of  such 
laws  in  this  age  of  competition  ?  or  if  the  thousand  temptations  to  vicious  pleasures 
were  suffered  to  present  their  attractions  unchecked  before  the  eyes  of  the  idle 
throngs  set  free  from  weekly  toil?  or  if  no  church-going  bell  made  audible  the 
appeal  of  a  hundred  congregations  to  the  conscience  and  self-respect  of  immortal 
beings,  and  invited  them  away  from  the  dens  of  guilty  pleasure  and  the  haunts  of 
vulgar  folly  ? 

Those  who  hastily  imagine  that  they  are  speaking  for  progress  and  liberty  when 
they  urge  with  vehemence  the  principle,  that  all  customs  rooted  in  the  Christian 
element  must  henceforth  receive  no  sanction  of  law,  can  have  little  notion  of  the 
reach  of  their  dogma.  Its  full  application  would  send  us  back  to  the  barbarism  of 
ancient  Germany,  and  the  Paganism  of  ancient  Rome.  The  relations  of  the  mod- 
ern household  ;  our  educational,  humane  and  criminal  institutions  ;  naj"-,  our  com- 
mon and  statute  laws — the  outgrowth  and  expression  of  our  national  life, — must  all 
be  swept  away,  and  of  eighteen  centuries  of  civilization  scarce  a  wreck  be  left  be- 
hind.    Jacobinical   France  tried    the  experiment  only  to  renounce  together,  in 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC.  17 

mingled  rage  and  contempt,  the  Revolutionary  Calendar  and  the  Revolutionary 
Guillotine.  Observe,  too,  the  partiality  with  which  a  society  without  a  Sabbath 
must  needs  be  administered  and  ruled.  Every  Christian  would  necessarily,  and  on 
conscientious  grounds,  be  excluded  from  office;  for  Legislatures,  courts,  custom ■ 
houses,  public  offices  of  all  kinds,  would  have  no  warrant  for  the  intermission  of 
their  business  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and,  of  course,  therefore,  no  "  Sabbatarian  "  could 
accept  a  position  of  public  responsibility.  Halcyon  days,  those,  for  the  handful  of 
anti-sectarian  sectarians,  who  clamor  now  for  "  equal  right-;,  and  no  Sunday  laws  !" 
All  the  official  stations  in  the  country  would  be  in  their  possession  ;  the  earth 
would  be  theirs,  and  the  fulness  thereof. 

The  doctrine  of  the  Staats  Zeitung,  that  "  the  Sabbath  is  not  a  civil  institution," 
being  dismissed  as  unsound,  its  propositions  as  to  the  application  of  Article  I,  sec- 
tion 3,  of  the  Constitution  to  this  question  disappear.  But  its  exposition  of  tlic 
Constitution  itself  requires  a  moment's  attention,  as  illustrating  the  folly  of  reck- 
less dealing  with  political  instruments,  drawn  up  in  a  strange  land  and  in  a  foreign 
language,  without  so  much  as  resorting  to  a  Dictionary.  "  Liberty  of  conscience 
shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness,"  says  the  Constitution- 
True,  says  the  Zeitung;  but  "by  acts  of  licentiousne.?s  are  manifestly  meant  cus- 
toms in  direct  opposition  to  our  social  ovA^T—polyfjamy,  for  example."  Such  may 
be  the  manifest  meaning  to  a  German  mind:  to  one  familiar  with  the  language, 
laws,  or  custom.s  of  this  country,  no  interpretation  could  be  more  absurd.  The 
exegesis  of  our  German  commentator  is  as  ingeniously  superfluous  as  the  most 
elaborate  escape  of  Dr.  Paulus  himself  from  the  plain  force  of  a  Scripture  text. 
Polygamy  was  unknown  in  the  State  when  the  Constitution  was  formed  ;  as  it  is  now 
unless  perhaps  in  some  of  the  wilder  Beer-Garden  quarters.  Any  English  diction- 
ary would  have  turned  the  constitutional  dreams  of  the  Zeitung  at  once  into  day- 
light. "Webster,  for  example,  explodes  the  whole  argument  in  a  single  definition, 
to  this  effect:  "  Licentiousnes?.  Excessive  indulgence  of  liberty  ;  contempt  of  the 
just  restraints  of  law,  morality,  and  decorum.  The  licentiousness  of  authors  is  justly 
condemned  ;  the  licentiousness  of  the  Press  is  punishable  by  law. 

'La-sv  Is  the  god  of  wise  men  : 
Licentiousness  is  the  god  of  fools.' — Plat}." 

According  to  this  definition,  the  Zeitung  will  see  that  such  perversions  of  the 
organic  law  of  the  State  as  we  have  exposed  would  bring  their  author  within  the 
scope  of  Dictionary  and  Constitutional  thunder  against  practices  more  common,  if 
more  decent,  than  "  polygamy." 

If  the  German  organizations  arrayed  to  test  the  constitutionality  of  the  Sunday 
Laws  are  guided  by  counsels  like  those  of  the  Stoats  Zeitung,  and  if  funds  are  raised 
and  lawyers  retained  with  the  view  of  securing  judicial  decisions  to  the  effect  that 
"  the  Sabbath  is  not  a  civil  institution;''  that  "  licentiousness  manifestly  means 
polygamy  "  alone  ;  and  that  therefore  Sunday  Theatres  may  be  lawfully  opened  in 
New  York,  in  the  face  of  law  and  in  defiance  of  public  opinion  ;  we  opine  the  only 
net  result  will  probably  be  a  fresh  demonstration  of  Plato's  neat  theological  defini- 
tion, that  ''Licentiousness  is  the  god  of  fools." 

From  The  Times,  May  11. 

A  UNITED  MAGISTRACY. 

There  are  numerous  combinations  to  resist  or  evade  our  laws,  and  to  defend  those 

who  do  both.     The  Liquor  interest,  in  its  various  ramifications,  is  thus  protected. 

There  are  "Liquor  Dealers' Associations,"   and  "  Lager-beer  Dealers' äocieties," 

and  "German  Anti-Sunday  Law  Associations,"  &c.  &c.      Against  such  a  power 

2 


18  TUE    PRESS    OF    NEV7    YOIIK    ON    THE 

with  ample  funds  unscrupulously  employed,  what  protection  have  the  wronged  and 
over-drugged  public  ?  Our  Laws?  But  what  if  their  enforcement  is  forestalled  by 
able  counsel,  packed  juries,  venal  courts,  or  a  subservient  magistracy  ?  What  if 
policemen  have  a  blind  side  for  unlicensed  corner  dram-shops  ?  Or,  if  they  are 
faithful  in  complaining  of  offenders,  what  if  a  District-Attorney  should  pile  up 
;?0,000  complaints  in  his  ofiSce — a  monument  of  official  neglect?  Or,  what  if  a  few 
convictions  are  had,  an  appeal  taken,  and  the  argument  never  should  be  reached  ? 
Or,  if  a  decision  is  likely  to  be  adverse,  what  if  a  little  lobbying  should  secure  just 
legislation  enough  to  put  everything  at  loose  ends  again  ?  Or,  if  perfectly  explicit 
statutes  are  enacted,  what  if  Judicial  and  Executive  officers  should  be  stimulated  to 
«quarrel  just  enough  to  nullify  all  efficient  action,  and  let  ofteiidcrs  go  on  in  their 
iniquity  ? 

Now,  is  it  not  time  that  this  game  of  fast  and  loose  should  cease  ?  It  may  not  be 
a  very  important  matter  that  our  City  Treasury  is  robbed  of  half  a  million  of  dollars 
annually  by  unlicensed  liquor  dealers.  Possibly,  we  could  stand  the  burden  of 
taxation  for  the  support  of  the  pauperism  caused  by  intemperance.  Tlie  pocket  is 
chiefly  affected  by  these  matters — though  there  is  a  squinting  of  something  else  in 
the  impoverishment  of  some  thousands  of  families  ;  but  we  will  not  plead  that. 
When  we  come,  however,  to  the  consideration  of  the  fact, — patent  to  every  Police- 
man cr  Police  Justice,  and  to  every  citizen  who  reads  a  police  report,— that  fully 
nine-tenths  of  the  crime  and  vice  of  the  city  can  be  traced  to  the  dram-shop,  as  cer- 
tainly as  a  stream  to  its  source,  it  seems  the  veriest  folly  and  trifling  to  leave  un- 
checked the  vast  system  of  liquor-selling,  and  to  deal  in  petty  detail  with  crimi- 
nals knov/n  to  be  manufactured  by  it. 

We  would  not  claim  that  any  policy  can  entirely  arrest  the  curse  of  intemper- 
ance and  kindred  vices.  When  all  is  done  that  man  can  do,  there  will  be  more  than 
enough  of  wrong-doing.  But  we  do  claim  that  the  determined  2Hirpose  to  execute 
the  laws  for  the  prevention  of  crime — and  especially  those  which  restrain  and  con- 
trol the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors — would  speedily  change  the  moral  and  social 
condition  of  the  city,  and  restore  the  ascendancy  of  law  and  virtue. 

In  order  to  this,  it  is  needful  that  the  various  Departments  of  our  City  Govern- 
ment should  be  united  in  aim  and  effort.  Political  and  personal  differences  should 
tind  another  arena  than  the  battle-tield  between  the  public  and  its  most  terrific  foe. 
Magistrates  and  police  officers  stand  out  as  the  sworn  executors  of  law,  and  their 
affiliation  with  law-breakers,  or  their  neglect  to  deal  with  them  as  the  result  of 
timidity,  complicity  or  mutual  misunderstanding,  would  be  a  betrayal  of  their 
trust  as  indefensible  as  the  treachery  of  a  sentinel  before  a  belcagured  city. 

The  progress  recently  made  in  suppressing  the  Sunday  Liquor  traffic,  and  the  in- 
cipient movements  of  the  Police  to  close  the  Sunday  Theatres,  would  indicate  a 
decided  advance  in  the  right  direction.  The  public  arc  in  the  mood  to  demand 
thorough  work  in  these  reforms,  on  all  days  of  the  week.  Any  disposition  to  trifle 
with  public  confidence  in  the  matter,  either  on  the  part  of  the  Police  or  the  Justices, 
would  be  visited  by  general  reprobation.  The  claim  for  one  day's  exemption  from 
rum-selling  and  theatrical  performances,  is  too  just  to  be  disputed  ;  and  any  class- 
combinations  to  defeat  that  claim,  whether  German  or  American,  should  and  will 
be  driven  to  the  wall  by  a  united  magistracy,  sustained  by  a  united  public. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  5. 

CAUTION  TO  LANDLORDS. 
The  recent  "act  to  preserve  the  public  peace  and  order  on  Sunday"  imposes 
heavy  penalties  on  the  owners  of  real  estate,  as  well  as  on  the  parties  directly  con- 
cerned in  Sunday  theatricals.  ' '  Every  owner  or  lessee  of  any  building,  part  of  a  build- 


LAW    AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC.  19 

lug,  ground,  garden,  or  concert-room,  or  other  room  or  place,  who  shall  lease  or  let 
out  the  same"  to  be  used  for  the  demoralizing  purposes  forbidden  in  the  act,  is  de- 
clared guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and,  in  addition  to  the  legal  penalty  therefor,  is 
«ubjccted  to  a  fine  of  S500,  recoverable  for  the  benefit  of  the  House  of  Kefuge. 

The  well-known  prudence  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  House  of  Refuge  is  a 
sufficient  guarantee  that  this  stringent  provision  will  not  be  used  oppressively  ;  but 
the  attitude  assumed  by  the  Sunday-theatre  lessees  of  open  resistance  to  the  police, 
and  the  half-and-half  measures  of  the  Police  Commissioners,  would  seem  to  leave  ho 
alternative  but  to  proceed  with  actions  for  the  civil  penalty.  The  owners  of  those 
establishments  may  save  themselves  trouble  and  cost  by  vacating  their  leases,  in 
instances  where  a  settled  purpose  is  avowed  to  defy  the  laws  on  the  part  of  their 
tenants.  And,  if  their  rents  are  somewhat  diminished,  they  may  console  themselves 
with  the  improvement  of  neighboring  property — now  depressed  by  the  nuisance 
of  a  noisy  Sunday  resort. 

From  the  same,  May  9. 

REBELLION  ENCOURAGED. 
The  Sunday  papers  might  find  better  employment  than  stimulating  German 
theatre-keepers  to  violate  our  laws.  If  they  are  sincere  in  their  talk  about  testing 
the  constitutionality  of  the  recent  Sunday  Law,  it  would  be  quite  as  well  to  en- 
«sourage  obedience  to  it  while  it  is  a  law,  as  to  counsel  its  open  violation  and  a  sub- 
«eqiient  resort  to  the  Courts.  Balderdash  about  the  "  victory  of  Sabbatarian  bigotry 
over  the  rights  of  man,"  and  "  compelling  every  man  to  go  to  church  on  Sunday^ 
or  mulcting  him  in  a  penalty  for  disobedience,"  is  quite  unworthy  even  the  Sunday 
Mercury.  It  savors  of  cant  to  talk  of  "  constitutional  Jiberty"  and  "  compulsory 
religion,"  whenever  an  attempt  is  made  to  stop  newsboys  from  yelling  in  our  streets, 
or  to  shut  up  unlicensed  dram-shops,  or  to  suppress  Sunday  theatres  and  gambling 
houses.  The  Mercury  knows  that  the  effort  of  "Sabbatarians"  has  had  simple 
reference  to  the  restoration  of  a  decent,  quiet  rest-day  ;  and  that  public  morality 
demands  so  much.  It  also  knows  that  the  first  men  in  the  community  to  resist  to 
the  end,  any  attempt  "  to  compel  any  man  to  go  to  church  on  Sunday,''  would  be 
the  very  "Sabbatarians"  whom  it  reproaches.  Why,  then,  does  it  persist  in  its 
misrepresentation  of  facts  ? 

From  the  same^  May  18. 
THE  SUNDAY  LAW. 
A  large  majority  of  liquor-sellers  and  restaurant-keepers  in  this  city  and  Brook- 
lyn, regard  the  new  Sunday  Liquor-law  and  its  rigid  enforcement  with  much  approv- 
al. The  more  respectable  of  them  have  always  had  some  conscientious  scruple» 
about  keeping  open-house  on  the  Sabbath,  but  in  doing  so  have  permitted  pecu- 
niary interests  to  prevail  over  their  inclinations.  A  seventh  day's  rest  and  cessa- 
tion from  business  is  required  by  this  class  of  persons  equally  with  all  others,  and 
an  interval  of  recreation  is  no  less  appreciated  by  them  ;  but  while  a  portion  per- 
sisted in  selling  on  the  Sabbath,  the  remainder  were  compelled  to  do  so  or  lose  their 
«ustomers.  But  now  that  a  law  strictly  enforced  compels  all  to  close,  without  ex- 
oeption,  no  objection  of  this  sort  can  be  raised,  no  discrimination  can  be  made  be- 
tween houses,  and  the  conscientious  restaurant-keeper  cannot  be  accused  of  refusing 
accommodation  to  customers.  As  has  been  remarked,  this  change  is  received  with 
favor  by  a  large  portion  of  the  dealers.  Resting  from  labor,  they  begin  the  week 
with  renewed  vigor,  which  is  more  than  an  equivalent  for  the  loss  of  the  profits  of  a 
Sunday's  business.  The  effect  of  the  law  is  also  seen  in  the  strict  order  and  pro- 
priety with  which  the  Sabbath  is  observed  ;  the  temptation  to  drink  is  removed  ; 


20  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

society  is  not  outraged  by  rowdyism  and  street  disturbances  ;  and  if  the  question 
were  to  be  put  to  a  public  test,  it  would  doubtless  receive  the  approval  of  a  large 
majority,  including  a  great  proportion  of  those  who  do  not  class  themselves  as 
church-goers  or  strict  Sabbath-keepers. 

.  Comments  of  the  Weekly  Press. 

Ft^om  The  Observer,  May  3. 
(;ftlSIS  OF  THE  SABBATH   REFORM.     REBELLION   OF  GERMANS :    DUTY 

OF  CITIZENS. 
The  new  Sunday  Law  has  stirred  up  the  elements  of  selfishness  and  sin  in  the  me- 
tropolis. It  strilies  at  the  monstrous  system  of  iniquity  which  has  grown  up  with 
European  emigration,  and  extended  thence  among  the  more  debased  of  our  own 
population.  Its  provisions  and  penalties  are  such  as,  if  properly  enforced,  will 
restore  to  the  whole  community  the  enjoyment  of  a  quiet  day  of  rest,  free  from  the 
annoyances  and  the  temptations  to  vice  and  folly  furnished  by  the  Sunday  theatre 
and  beer  garden.  The  necessity  for  such  legislation  arose  from  the  fact  that  th« 
previous  laws  were  enacted  when  the  possibility,  even,  of  such  enormities  was  not 
contemplated  by  our  legislators  ;  so  that  the  caterers  for  Sunday  amusements  have 
to  thank  themselves  that  a  new  and  stringent  law  for  the  protection  of  an  Ameri- 
can Sabbath  appears  on  the  Statute  Book. 

The  issue  is  fairly  joined,  at  last,  between  the  friends  and  enemies  of  the  cuil 
Sabbath, — for  no  question  of  its  religious  obligation  or  observance  is  involved.  It 
is  a  question  whether  the  day  of  rest  secured  to  every  citizen,  and  to  all  citiacns 
alike,  shall  be  preserved  and  perpetuated  ;  or  whether  it  shall  be  yielded  to  saloon- 
keepers, players,  theatre  proprietors  and  pleasure-makers,  to  be  made  the  sport  of 
selfish  indulgence,  and  the  gala  day  of  ungodliness.  There  will  be,  as  there  have 
been,  innumerable  attempts,  on  the  part  of  the  Sunday  press  and  other  interested 
parties,  to  impose  false  issues  on  the  public:  but  the  one  question  is  between  the 
moral  and  immoral — between  good  and  bad  citizens — between  a  Sabbath  and  no 
Sabbath. 

On  this  issue  there  can  be  no  neutrality.  American  citizens,  without  regard  to 
party,  sect,  or  section,  will  range  themselves  with  law  and  right ;  and  our  authori- 
ties. Judicial  or  E.^ecutive,  we  trust,  will  meet  the  exigency  with  firmness,  yet 
with  forbearance.  A  large  part  of  the  German  population,  and  a  larger  part  of  the 
Irish,  will  cooperate  with  the  authorities  to  secure  the  proper  enforcement  of  the 
laws.  The  enemies  of  the  Sabbath,  though  violent  and  determined,  are  but  a  hand- 
ful compared  with  the  body  of  law-abiding  citizens. 

During  the  past  week  there  have  been  several  meetings  of  German  theatre-pro- 
prietors, brewers,  &c.  ;  and  on  Saturday  an  organization  was  formed  to  reüxt  the  latcf, 
and  to  protect  offenders.  Funds  are  to  be  raised  for  this  purpose  by  a  tax  on  brew- 
ers, innkeepers,  bar-tenders,  and  all  concerned  in  lager  beer  interests.  It  was 
agreed  to  defy  the  law,  except  the  prohibition  of  dancing  and  gambling,  foregoing 
also  the  performances  till  4  o'clock  on  Sunday  P.  M.— calling  this  a  "  compromise." 
On  the  last  Sunday,  the  theatrical  and  musical  performances  continued  as  usual, 
attended  by  as  large  crowds  as  ever.  Every  person  engaged  in  these  performance» 
kneio  that  the  law  of  the  land  was  violated,  and  that  each  was  liable  to  arrest  for 
misdemeanor,  and  to  a  fine  of  $500.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  this  bold  gam« 
will  succeed — whether  there  is  sufficient  power  in  a  government  of  law  to  restrain 
wholesale  iniquity  ;  or  whether  our  Police  force  and  our  Judiciary  are  a  costly  sham. 
To  doubt  the  issue  would  be  to  doubt  whether  our  Republic  was  made  for  citisiens. 
or  for  lager-beerdom. 


LAW   AGAINST   SUNDAY   THEATRES,   ETC.  21 

Meanwhile,  the  friends  of  the  civil  Sabbath,  and  of  a  civil  Sabbath,  must  give  suf- 
ficient attention  to  this  question  to  understand  it ;  and  devote  enough  of  time  and 
influence  to  it  to  leave  uo  doubt  in  the  minds  of  the  Police,  and  the  Police  Justices, 
and  the  Press,  as  to  the  depth  and  siacerity  of  their  convictions  in  favor  of  an 
orderly  Sabbath,  and  of  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  against  the  Sunday  liquor  traf- 
fic and  Sunday  theatricals. 

From  the  same,  3Iay  10. 

GERMAN  ATHEISTS  AND  THEIR  SUNDAY  PERFORMANCES. 

The  progress  of  the  Sunday  movement  is  revealing  more  and  more  of  the  iniquity 
and  error  of  the  disorderly  classes.  The  real  character  of  the  German  Sunday  the- 
atres, and  the  dangerous  influence  of  their  proprietors,  are  coming  to  be  known  ; 
and,  when  known,  the  necessity  for  the  passage  and  euforcement  of  the  law  against 
this  class  of  Sunday  amusements  will  be  obvious  to  every  decent  citizen.  One  of 
the  most  influential  of  these  proprietors  has  made  a  public  avowal  of  his  atheism — 
at  the  same  time  adopting  the  ruse  of  giving  his  Sunday  preformances  under  the 
guise  of  a  "  Shaker  Congregation  ! ''  Comedies,  farces,  boisterous  music,  drinking, 
and  all  sorts  of  revelry,  are  interspersed  with  atheistic  harangues,  and  denuncia- 
tions of  the  Bible,  the  clergy»  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  the  authorities  of  the  city. 

Without  counselling  the  molestation  of  such  blasphemers  on  account  of  their 
words,  we  may  say  that  it  is  due  to  the  majesty  of  law  that  their  unlawful  acts 
should  be  restrained  and  punished.  If  German  atheists  have  no  better  manners  or 
morals  than  to  foist  upon  us  their  scandalous  Sunday  sports,  in  contempt  of  law  and 
custom  and  public  sentiment,  it  is  high  time  they  learned  that  American  freedom 
and  unrestrained  licen.se  are  quite  dift'erent  and  incompatible. 

We  rejoice  to  know  that  there  is  a  large  and  an  increasing  class  among  the  Ger- 
mans who  are  disgusted  with  such  proceedings,  and  who  are  giving  their  influence 
in  favor  of  a  proper  observance  of  the  Lord's  day. 

From  The  Evangelist,  May  12. 

RESISTANCE    TO    THE    SUNDAY    LAW. 

The  defeat  of  the  anti-Sunday  movement  in  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature,  and 
the  passage  of  the  Sunday  Amusement  Bill  in  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  are  evi- 
dent signs  of  an  improved  state  of  public  sentiment  on  the  Sabbath  question.  It  is 
plain  that  tiie  respectable  portion  of  our  citizens  were  never  less  disposed  than  now 
to  yield  to  the  demands  of  the  immoral  classes  for  the  abandonment  of  our  time- 
honored  customs  as  to  Sabbath  observance.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  case  for- 
merly, we  are  convinced  that  there  are  but  few  of  the  tax-jjayers  of  this  city  who 
are  not  now  fully  convinced  of  the  intimate  and  inseparable  connection  between  a 
holiday,  beer-garden  Sunday,  and  every  kind  of  vice  and  crime,  and  that  the  toler- 
ation of  tlie  former  involves  an  immense  expenditure  of  money  to  suppress  the  latter. 
It  was  this  conviction  in  part  that  led  to  the  enactment  of  a  law  by  the  last 
Legislature,  which  would  place  greater  barriers  in  the  way  of  selfishness  and  sin  on 
the  day  that  furnishes  the  leisure  for  dissipation  and  folly,  and  which,  consequently, 
becomes  a  day  of  special  temptation  to  the  laboring  classes. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  proprietors  of  lager  beer  saloons  and  Sunday  theatres 
are  preparing  to  resist  the  enforcement  of  the  new  law.  in  every  possible  way.  The 
beer  sellers  have  already  formed  two  associations  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  testing 
the  validity  of  the  act  whicli  re  [uires  them  to  close  their  saloons  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  to  resist  the  efforts  of  the  police  in  bringing  offenders  to  speedy  punishment. 
A  tax  of  ten  cents  has  been  levied  on  each  barrel  of  lager  sold,  and  the  fund 
thus  raised  is  to  be  expended  in  feeing  lawyers  to  defend  those  who  violate  the  State 
enactment. 

But  the  height  of  brazen-faced  impudence  has  been  reached  only  by  the  proprie- 
tors of  Sunday  theatres.  Their  last  dodge  is  a  shameful  and  impious  pretence  to 
eatablish  a  new  religious  sect,  and  on  the  plea  of  religious  liberty  they  claim  the 
right  to  hold  such  exercises  as  they  may  see  fit.  One  of  these  proprietors  has  published 
a  programme  in  the  German  papers  of  the  exercises  to  take  place  in  his  theatre  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  announces  that  he  has  foimded  "a  new  German  church,  which 
has  for  its  object  the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbath,  the  instruction  of  the  people, 
and  the  improvement  of  criminals  in  this  happy  land  !  "  "  If,"  says  he,  "  I  give 
moral  representations  on  Sunday,  decent  and  instructive,  I  am  a  preacher,  and  my 
actors  are  orators  ;  no  church  is  anything  but  a  diff"erent  kind  of  theatre  !  "_ 


22  THE  PRESS  OF  NEW  YORK  ON  THE 

This  wretched  creature  avows  himself  an  atheist,  and  denounces  the  Bible,  the 
mini?trj%  ami  everything  sacred.  And  these  atheistic  ravings,  says  one  of  our  daily 
papers,  •'  were  listened  to  and  applauded  by  nearly  a  thousand  half-drunken  Ger- 
mans in  a  Sunday  theatre,  in  the  interval  of  comedies  performed  in  open,  avowed 
defiance  of  a  law  of  the  State,  passed  within  a  fortnight." 

The  issue  is  thus  fairly  joined.  There  is  no  way  for  good  citizens  to  escape  the 
respon,«ibility  of  settling  the  question.  These  lawless  strangers  must  be  taught  to 
respect  our  institations  and  obey  our  laws  ;  tliat  they  cannot  resist  and  defy  them 
with  impunity.  We  are  glad  to  see  that  the  new  Police  Commissioners,  with  their 
enlarged  power.s,  have  entered  so  promptly  on  the  enforcement  of  the  Sunday 
Liquor  and  the  Sunday  Amusement  Laws.  In  their  efforts  to  enforce  the  law,  they 
may  count  on  the  hearty  support  of  every  good  citizen,  and  we  believe  of  every 
tax-payer,  whatever  be  his  party  or  his  political  creed. 

But  why  tlie  order  to  arrest  offenders  is  varied  in  the  case  of  those  who  Tiolate 
the  Sunday  Tiicatre  Law,  is  not  quite  clear.  Actors,  proprietors,  and  all  concerned 
in  the  performances,  are  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  are  liable  therefore,  to  arrest 
without  a  warrant.  A  complaint  on  Monda,y  may  be  a  convenient  way  of  not  enforc- 
ing tlie  law  :  an  arrest  on  Sunday  would  effectually  carry  out  its  intent.  Why 
should  there  be  a  discrimination? 

Surely  the  attitude  of  defiance  assumed  by  the  Supday  theatre  jiroprietors  does 
not  entitle  them  to  any  special  grace  on  the  part  of  the  Police  authorities.  And 
the  fact  that  they  are  wholesale  offenders,  tempting  thousands  of  people  every  Sun- 
day to  illegal  acts,  should  induce  the  Police  to  make  thorough  work  in  their  deal- 
ing with  these  influential  outlaws. 

Our  Police  Justices  and  Criminal  Judges  have  now  the  opportunity  to  impress  the 
lawless  classes  with  a  salutary  lesson,  that  even-handed  justice  will  be  meeted  out 
to  offenders,  whether  their  name  be  legion,  and  their  combination  never  so  powerful 
in  ill-gained  wealth,  or  whether  they  are  brought  singly  before  them. 

And  let  tliera  bear  in  mind,  that  the  public  are  not  in  a  mood  to  be  trifled  with,  in 
a  matter  involving  the  peace  and  order  of  a  great  city.  After  a  distinct  and  avowed 
determination  is  expressed,  and  that  by  the  most  dangerous  class  of  foreigners 
among  us,  to  trample  our  laws  under  their  feet,  nothing  less  will  satisfy  the  public 
than  vigilance  and  fidelity,on  the  part  of  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  restrain  and 
punish  the  lawless. 

From  The  Intelligencer,  May  3. 

THE  AMERICAN  SABBATH  PROTECTED. 

Among  the  numerous  acts  of  the  Legislature — good,  bad,  and  indiflferent — the 
Sunday  xVmuscmcnt  Bill  is  accepted  as  a  measure  of  unquestionable  benefit  to  our 
city.  It  strikes  at  the  root  of  a  system  of  evil-doing  more  monstrous  than  exists  in 
any  capital  of  the  Old  World.  It  is  a  matter  of  amazement,  indeed,  that  a  civil- 
ieed  community  should  have  tolerated  so  long  the  shameless  wrong  of  Sunday  the- 
atricals, with  their  accompanying  immoralities.  And  now  that  a  law  is  enacted, 
guarded  but  stringent  in  its  provisions,  it  will  be  a  disgrace  to  our  city  and  its  au- 
thorities, if  the  cormorants  of  the  beer-garden  are  allowed  to  defy  or  defeat  its  en- 
forcement, according  to  their  avowed  purpose. 

It  is  certainly  as  much  as  can  be  claimed  of  the  order  loving  public,  that  they 
shouUl  tolerate  the  unlicensed,  and  often  immoral  performances  of  the  lager-beer 
theatres  si.K  days  of  the  week.  When  they  go  farther,  and  make  the  Sabbath  their 
carnival  and  harvest  day,  they  outrage  every  conviction  of  right  and  propriety  of 
the  community  ;  and  the  attempt  to  do  tliis  in  open  violation  of  a  law  they  did  all 
in  their  power  to  defeat,  is  a  gross  insult  to  the  country  of  their  adoption,  which 
rtvery  good  citizen  will  resent  and  resist  to  the  bitter  end. 

The  movements  of  the  brewers  and  proprietors  of  theatres  are  narrowly  watched 
t)y  the  police  and  the  public.  They  evidently  intend  to  brave  everything,  with  the 
hope  of  frightening  our  authorities  from  the  execution  of  the  lav/.  Last  Sunday 
most  of  the  large  theatres  continued  their  performances  as  usual.  One  of  them  ad- 
fled  to  the  programme  an  oration  by  the  proprietor,  in  which  he  avowed  himself  to 
be  an  atheist,  denouncing  the  Bible  and  the  ministry,  and  everything  sacred. 

The  time  has  come  to  settle  the  question  once  for  all.  whether  emigrants  toour 
shores  are  to  respect  our  institutions,  and  obey  our  laws ;  or  whether  atheistic 
refugees  from  Europe  are  to  trample  with  itnpunity  on  both.  Our  magistracy  owe 
it  to  their  own  dignity,  and  to  the  community  they  arc  bound  to  protect,  to  move 
forward  to  the  speedy  solution  of  this  problem.     They  may  count  on  the  support  of 


LAW   AGAINST  SUNDAY   THEATRES,    ETC.  2S 

every  tax- payer,  and  of  every  good  citizen  of  whatever  party  or  creed.  And  if 
there  be  those  among  us  who  cannot  content  themselves  in  a  land  where  the  Sab- 
bath is  protected  from  the  invasion  of  the  godless  and  the  profane,  let  them  go 
back  to  the  lands  where  their  Sunday  license  has  cost  them  their  civil  and  religious 
freedom. 

From  the  same,  May  10. 

BEER-GARDEN  FROTH. 

One  ceases  to  wonder  at  the  failure  of  the  Red  Republican  Germans  in  their  out- 
break of '48,  when  acquainted  with  their  tactics  in  assailing  the  laws  and  institu- 
tions of  their  adopted  country.  Their  frothy  manifestoes,  their  ignorance  alike  of 
their  own  strength  and  of  the  strength  of  their  antagonists,  their  want  of  familarity 
with  principles  of  government  established  here  for  generations,  their  incapacity  for 
effective  organizatior ,  would  argue  little  less  than  failure  in  political  or  social 
combinations. 

The  efforts  of  the  Sunday-theatre  gentry  to  resi.«t  the  execution  of  the  recent  act 
to  suppress  demoralizing  amusements,  are  just  formidable  enough  to  reveal  their 
iininms — not  vigorous  enough,  we  should  t^uppose,  to  do  aught  than  to  stimulate  our 
authorities  to  vigorous  action.  Their  meetings  are  thinly  attended,  that  on  Satur- 
day by  only  twenty.  And,  with  the  exception  of  a  tariff  on  the  sale  of  lager  beer 
on  Sunday — amounting,  it  is  said,  to  about  $500  a  week — money  is  slowly  raised 
for  purposes  of  rebellion. 

Our  belief  is  that  the  magistracy  of  the  city,  sustained  by  the  press  and  a  nearly 
unanimous  public  sentiment,  will  make  short  work  of  this  impudent  attempt  of 
German  atheists  and  infidels  to  override  the  laws  of  God  and  man,  for  the  sake  of  a 
monopoly  of  Sunday  folly.  Surely,  the  power  that  has  mastered  some  5000  liquor 
shops  will  not  quail  before  a  score  or  two  of  theatre  keepers. 

FroTQ,  The  Examinee,  May  13. 

A  QUIET  NEW  YORK  SUNDAY. 

The  change  in  the  aspect  of  the  city  Sabbath  is  very  grateful.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  .Jewish  clothing  stores,  and  drug  and  segar  shops,  business  of  all  kinds  is 
now  suspended.  The  dram  shops  were  almost  universally  closed.  The  only  con- 
siderable remaining  nuisance  is  the  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer  Saloons  among  the 
Germans.  The  proprietors  of  these  establishments  have  adopted  the  desperate 
policy  of  openly  resisting  the  law,  and  have  formed  an  association  for  mutual  pro- 
tection in  its  violation.  They  have  thus  made  an  issue  involving  the  most  serious 
consequences  ;  for  if  they  may  resist  the  act  just  passed,  to  "preserve  the  public 
peace  and  order  on  Sunday,"  they  may  resist  any  and  all  laws  that  conflict  with  their 
pleasures  or  supposed  interests,  and  we  have  anarchy  at  once.  Thfre  can  be  no 
.alternative  but  the  prompt  and  energetic  suppression  of  this  spirit  of  lawlessness. 
too  long  unrebuked.  The  Police  and  the  C^ourts  can  surely  rely  on  the  support  of 
the  orderly  community  in  dealing  with  the  handful  of  Atheists  who  contemn  our 
laws,  and  put  at  defiance  our  authorities. 

Comments  of  the  Sunday  Press. 

From,  The  Sunday  Mercury,  April  29. 
THE  SUNDAY-LAW  TYRANNY. 
If  liberty-loving  men  and  women  submit  to  the  new  outrage  perpetrated  upon 
them  in  the  Sunday  law  just  enacted,  they  will  submit  to  anything.  If  they  will 
ait  quietly  down  and  see  an  authority  u:-urped  to  bind  their  consciences  and  their 
opinions,  they  have  only  got  what  they  deserve  ;  for  they  do  not  merit  indepen- 
dence. The  Legislature  has  no  constitutional  right  to  proclaim  a  statutory  Sabbath. 
It  has  no  power  given  it  in  the  instrument  of  its  creation  to  ordain  a  holy  day  in 
the  week,  and  make  it  a  penal  offence  not  to  keep  it.  It  committed  an  act  of  high- 
handed tyranny  well  worthy  of  the  morally  rotten  and  corrupt  assemblage  of  polit- 
ical prostitutes  that  made  money  by  such  performances.  But  a  law  framed  by 
creatures  so  vile,  and  a  law  so  violative  of  every  man's  inalienable  and  guaranteed 
rights,  is  null  and  void  of  itself.  No  citizen  owes  it  obedience.  He  who  yields  to 
its  arbitrary  dictates  is  guilty  himself  of  a  solemn  fraud  upon  the  public  ;  for  he 
countenances  by  his  concession  the  infamous  oppression  of  which  it  is  the  represen- 
tative. 


24  THE  PRESS  ON  THE  SUNDAY  LAW. 

We  appeal,  on  this  occasion.  "  from  Pbilip  drunk  to  Pliilip  sober."  We  appeal 
from  tlie  people's  false-hearted  repiesentatives  at  Albany,  who  were  intoxicated 
with  an  insane  desire  to  grow  rich,  by  selling  at  a  great  price  their  worthless  souIp 
to  greedy  .«peculators,  to  the  people  themselves.  Let  them  decide.  They  are  no 
longer  bigoted  or  priest-ridden.  They  have  grown  large-minded  and  liberal.  They 
will  sustain  no  such  law  of  Puritan  sectari  mism.  They  will  repudiufe  it  as  they  have 
th'  Maine  Liquor  Law.  Tliey  trampled  the  latter  under  their  feet,  and  they  will 
this.  The  Maine  Law  still  remains  uiiobliterated  upon  our  Statut.*  books.  But  it 
is  unenforced.  It  cannot  be  carried  out.  The  honest  sense  of  justice  in  the  public 
inind  will  not  permit  it.  Neither  will  it  permit  the  enforcement  of  this  new  Sun 
day  Law  ;  for  this  is  a  still  more  direct  infringement  of  human  rights.  The  former 
aimed  only  at  our  independence  of  appetite,  but  this  audncioud;/  aims  at  our  indepen- 
dence of  soul  and  conacioice.  Resist  it.  ICC  say  !  Reskl  it,'lilce  men  and  frcenica  !  Bring 
it  to  an  issue  at  once.  Carry  it,  by  this  means,  before  the  highest  tribunal  of  appeal, 
and  crush,  at  one  legal  blow,  the  encroaching  iniquity  of  the  Sabbatarians. 

From  the  same,  May  6. 
TESTING  THE  NEW  SUNDAY  LAW. 

The  Anti-Sabbatarians  are  gathering  their  strength  for  a  grand  trial  of  strength 
before  the  proper  courts  on  the  constitutionality  of  the  Sunday  Law.  We  are  sorry 
that  our  own  countrymen  do  not  move  more  energetically  in  an  affair  which  so 
nearly  concerns  the  rights  of  conscience  guaranteed  to  them  by  the  great  Magna 
Charter  of  their  liberties.  Wo  are  sorry  that  they  leave  the  bnuit  of  this  impor- 
tant battle  for  independence  to  our  German  adopted  citizens,  instead  of  moving  in 
it  themselves  ;  for,  however  little  they  may  feel  affected  at  present,  they  may  be 
sure  that  their  time  will  come.  The  Sabbatarians  will  never  rest  with  one  victory  of 
bigotry  over  the  rights  of  men.  They  have  openly  boasted  that  they  intend  to 
make  the  civil  power  subservient  to  the  Church  ;  and  they  will  do  it.  if  not  stopped. 
They  have  now  secured  a  law  to  prohibit  all  amusem^its  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week.  They  will  soon  projMse  one  to  compel  every  man  to  go. to  church  on  that  day,  or 
mulct  him  in  a  penalty  for  his  disobedience  ! 

The  Germans  are  taking  the  right  co  irse  in  this  dilemma.  They  see  to  what  this 
kind  of  legislation  leads.  They  refuse  to  obey  the  new  law,  suffer  themselves  to  be 
arrested,  and  then  prepare  to  test  the  constitutional  (juestion.  The  Dcmoknd  news- 
paper even  objects  to  the  use  of  the  word  "  Sunday  ' '  in  announcements  of  concerts  as 
a  recognition  of  the  tyrannous  Sunday  La  w.  The  Staats  Zcitunrj  rejoices  at  the  oppor- 
tunity thus  given  to  bring  the  question  to  a  distinct  issue.  This  is  the  way  to  talk  ; 
for,  if  making  a  certain  day  of  the  week  a  legal  Sabbath  is  not  the  legislation  in 
regard  to  an  "establishment  of  religion,''  forbidden  by  the  Federal  Constitution, 
then  are  we  no  judges  of  the  nature  of  laws  or  the  meaning  of  language. 

Vocabulary  of  the  Sunday  No-Suiiday  Press. 

A  selection  from  the  characteristic  epithets  of  the  Sunday  Newspapers,  embody 
ing  substantially  whatever  of  argument  has  been  adduced  against  the  suppression  of 
Sunday  Dram-selling,  and  Theatrical  exhibitions,  must  suffice  instead  of  extended 
extracts.      This  vocabulary  might  be  greatly  increased.     No  comment  is  necessary. 

"  Aminadab  Sleeks,''  "  Brandy-nosed  Committee  of  Public  Morals.''  "  Blasphem- 
ing Sectarians,"  "Brutal  Fanatics,"  "Champagne  piety  and  roast-turkey  Christi- 
anity," "  Fanatical  Sabbatariano,"  "Fanatics  and  Fools,"  "  Fourth  Commandment 
wolves  and  bears,''  "Hollow-hearted,  self-conceited,  snuffling  moral  swindlers," 
"Metropolitan  Board  of  Popes,"  '"Parvenu  Snobs,"  "Police  Inquisitors,"  "Puri- 
tanical Pharisees,''  "  Praise-God-Bare-bones,"  "  Pharisaic  wine-bibbing  Christians," '  • 
"  Self-satisfieil  spiritual  dictators,"  "Self-righteous  Fanatics,"  "Self-appointed 
Sunday  Sabbath  Committee,"  "  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  Sadducees  and  Hypocrites, ' " 
"Snivelling  Mawworms,"  "  Sunday-snivellers." 

A  single  sentence,  published  in  a  Sunday  Daily,  in  immediate  connection  with  the 
names  of  the  members  of  the  Sabbath  Committee,  will  show  in  what  connections 
the  above  epithets  have  been  employed  :  "  The  practice  of  the  Sabbatarians  is  to  give  .tir 
days  to  the  devil — to  lying,  and  slandering,  and  cheating,  and  to  nine-tenths  of  the  vices  and 
crimes  prohilnted  hy  the  decalogue ;  and  then  to  give  the  seventh  day  to  God,  when  they  art 
tired  of  sinning  all  the  week. ' ' 

Office  of  the  Sabbath  Commhtee,  21  Bible  House,  New  York. 


OUE  CENTEAL  PAEK. 


Document  No.  XIV. 


OF 


THE  NEW  YOEK  SABBATH  COMMFTTEE. 


NEW  YORK: 
PRINTED   BY    EDWARD    0.    JENKINS, 

No.    26    FRANKFORT    STREET. 

1860. 


OÜE  CENTRAL  PAM. 


As  this  noble  Public  Improvement  approaches  completion,  it 
must  be  a  matter  of  anxious  inquiry  with  the  Commissioners  and 
the  thoughtful  public :  What  shall  be  its  influence  on  the  public 
morals  ?  How  shall  its  paramount  objects  as  a  means  of  health 
and  diversion  be  accomplished,  consistently  with  the  highest 
moral  benefits  ?  Besides  the  individual  interest  of  the  under- 
signed in  this  subject,  their  public  relation  to  a  question  of  some 
moment  involved  in  the  regulations  of  the  Park,  now  under  con- 
sideration, would  appear  to  justify  the  presentation  of  this  paper 
to  your  respected  Board. 

It  must  be  presumed  that  the  Commissioners,  in  shaping  the 
administration  of  such  a  trust,  with  no  American  precedent, 
will  adopt  their  measures  with  great  deliberation,  and  innovate 
but  little,  if  at  all,  on  the  prevailing  moral  convictions  of 
the  American  public.  In  the  art  of  landscape  gardening  and 
kindred  matters  of  taste,  we  yield  the  palm  to  Europe,  and  we 
do  well  to  avail  ourselves  of  her  older  civilization.  In  politi- 
cal, moral,  and  religious  matters,  we  have  intelligently  discard- 
ed the  views  prevailing  on  the  Continent,  especially  as  relates 
to  monarchical  institutions,  church  establishments,  and  Sunday 
observance.  On  all  these  points,  the  convictions  of  our  people 
are  fixed  ;  and  Europe  is  more  likely  to  learn  from  us  than 
we  from  her.  We  need  the  more  to  discriminate  here,  inas- 
much as  a  considerable  element  of  our  population  of  Euro- 
pean birth  may  counsel  and  claim  that  the  founding  of  a 
great  Park,  after  the  style  of  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  or  the 
Prater,  must  carry  with  it  the  Sunday  pastimes  of  Paris  and 
Vienna :  as  great  an  error  as  to  insist  that  our  church  arch- 
itecture, copied  from  the  old  world,  must  draw  with  it  the 
creed  or  the  ritual  of  the   cathedrals  after  which  it  is   mod- 


4  OUR  CENTRAL   PARK. 

eled.  We  are  more  likely  to  take  our  precedents  in  this,  as  in 
other  matters,  from  the  European  kingdom  whose  language  and 
institutions  harmonize  with  our  own  —  and  where  the  intro- 
duction into  her  public  and  ornamental  grounds  of  the  con- 
tinental Sunday,  in  all  its  levity  and  organized  frivolity,  has  been 
sturdily  resisted — than  from  France,  where  the  English  sport, 
horse-racing,  has  been  recently  borrowed  and  added  to  her  in- 
numerable sources  of  Sunday  diversion.  We  form  a  Park  in  the 
principal  city  of  a  nation  characteristically  Christian,  and  in  its 
whole  historic  life  Sabbath-observing.  Its  regulations  should  not 
ignore  this  fundamental  fact,  nor  admit  of  a  doubt  as  to  its  present 
and  future  conduct  in  harmony  with  this  fact. 

It  is  respectfully  suggested — more  as  a  caveat,  than  as  im- 
plying that  any  Commissioner  entertains  differing  views — 
that,  while  the  privileges  of  the  Park,  under  a  vigilant" 
Police,  are  accorded  to  the  public  on  the  Sabbath,  it  would  be 
neither  competent  nor  wise  for  the  Commissioners  to  provide 
for  or  sanction  the  popular  diversions  common  to  and  appro- 
priate for  the  secular  days  of  the  week  ;  and  that  the  entire 
Sabbath  arrangements  should  be  such  as  ndllier  to  offend  nor  cor- 
rupt the  public  conscience. 

Such  reasons  as  the  following  would  seem  to  enfjrce  this  sug- 
gestion : — 

1.  Unless  some  such  principle  controls  the  Sunday  arrange- 
ments of  the  Park,  no  limit  can  be  fixed  to  the  numbci-  or  va- 
riety of  popular  amusements  that  will  claim  a  place  in  the  Peo- 
ple's Pleasure-Ground.  One  class  may  be  content  with  aquatic 
sports ;  another  may  want  bands  of  music ;  another  will 
demand  target  shooting;  another  will  only  be  satisfied  with 
horse-racing ;  another  still  would  like  the  prize-ring  or  the  bull- 
fight. Why  withhold  from  yet  another  class  the  gambling- 
table,  the  fortune-teller,  and  the  thimble- rigger  ?  i\ll  these, 
and  many  others,  enter  into  the  Sunday  amusements  of  Euro- 
pean pleasure-grounds.  Where  shall  the  line  be  drawn,  if  the 
bars  are  once  let  down  ? 

2.  It  is  the  only  principle  consistent  with  the  spirit  and 
letter  of  our  laws  and  institutions.  It  need  not  be  stated  that 
Christianity  is  a  part  of  the  law  of  the  land ;  nor  that  the 
Christian  Sabbath  is  guarded  from  invasion  by  the  statutes  of 


OUR   CENTRAL    PARK.  5 

nearly  all  our  States,  and  especially  in  this  State,  from  the  days 
of  Peter  Stuyvesant  down  to  the  present  day.  While  no  specific 
mode  of  Sabbath  observance  is  prescribed,  and  no  religious  rites 
imposed,  ordinary  servile  labor  and  public  sports  are  forbidden, 
so  as  to  secure  to  all  a  day  of  rest  and  worship,  free  from  dis- 
turbance and  temptation  to  vice.  Any  system,  then,  of  amuse- 
ments or  refreshments,  involving  the  service  of  attendants,  and  in- 
ducing to  the  enjoyment  of  secular  pastimes,  would  tend  to  bring 
contempt  on  our  laws,  and  afford  the  warrant  of  a  high  example 
for  a  general  desecration  of  sacred  time.  It  would  throw  back 
indefinitely  the  Keforms,  now  successfully  in  progress,  by  which 
crime  and  pauperism  have  been  greatly  checked,  and  the  majesty 
of  law  has  been  measurably  restored. 

3.  Any  other  principle  would  be  unjust  to  a  very  large  and 
influential  portion  of  citizens  and  tax -payers;  while,  thus  ad- 
ministered, equal  rights  to  all  citizens  would  be  secured.  To 
ask  that  Sunday  bauds  may  fill  the  air  of  the  Eamble  with 
strains  of  music ;  that  jolly  parties  may  be  traversing  the 
Lake  in  mimic  squadrons ;  or  that  kindred  amusements  may 
monopolize  the  delightful  resorts  of  the  Park  on  the  Lord's 
Day,  is  to  deny  the  rights  of  peaceful,  conscientious,  Christian 
citizens,  and  their  families,  to  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  an 
enclosure  they  may  have  paid  thousands  to  create.  Ls  this 
courteous  or  just  ?  We  think  not.  The  Park  was  made  for  all 
the  people,  as  "  the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man."  The  one  was 
made  for  a  Park — not  for  a  race-course,  nor  for  a  camp-meeting — 
not  for  Sunday  sports,  nor  for  religious  services — not  for  one 
class,  but  for  all  classes,  with  reasonable  regulations,  in  accor. 
dance  with  our  laws  and  institutions.  So  of  the  Sabbath :  it  was 
made  for  a  SaUbath — not  for  a  day  of  frivolity  and  dissipation  ; 
it  was  made  to  be  "  kept  holy :  "  and  to  pervert  the  Sabbath 
into  a  mere  holiday,  and  the  Central  Park  into  the  arena  for  holi- 
day sports,  besides  being  a  gross  departure  from  American  and 
Christian  ideas,  would  be  little  less  than  an  outrage  on  the  rights 
and  feelings  of  the  Christian  community, 

4.  The  Park,  if  conducted  on  the  European  principle,  would 
inevitably  become  the  source  of  popular  demoralization.  Our 
criminal  records  show  that  while  the  foreign-born  population  of 
this  city  embraces  less  than  one-third  of  the  aggregate  population. 


6  OUR   CENTRAL   PARK. 

the  arrests  for  crime  and  disorder  from  among  this  class  have 
averaged  about  83  per  cent,  for  the  last  three  years,  leaving  but 
17  per  cent,  for  the  comparatively  Sabbath -keeping  portion  of 
native-born  citizens.  Further  official  statistics  show  that  the  ar- 
rests for  drunkenness  and  crime,  which  for  a  long  period  were  an 
average  of  25  per  cent,  more  on  Sunday  than  on  week-days,  were 
so  reduced  by  the  partial  closing  of  liquor-shops  on  the  Sabbath 
as  that  they  averaged  nearly  60  per  cent,  more  on  week-days 
than  on  Sunday  for  a  period  of  seven  consecutive  months,  with  a 
falling  off  of  total  arrests  of  about  7,000  in  a  single  quarter.  These 
statistics  would  seem  to  establish  a  certain  connection  between 
Sunday  license  and  crime.  Now,  while  we  would  not  press  these 
facts  unduly  as  a  vindication  of  the  morality  of  the  Sabbatli,  and 
would  expressly  disclaim  all  purpose  to  cite  them  invidiously, 
and  to  the  disparagement  of  our  immigrant  population,  which 
embraces  very  many  orderly  and  most  valuable  citizens,  their 
significance  cannot  be  overlooked  in  discussing  the  tendency  of 
Sunday  regulations  for  our  great  Park.  K  a  system  is  to  be 
advocated,  the  influence  of  which  shall  be  to  draw  men  away 
from  their  homes  and  churches,  and  our  juvenile  population 
from  Sunday-schools  and  domestic  culture,  and  to  substitute  for 
all  these  humanizing  and  elevating  moral  and  educational  agen- 
cies the  contamination  of  indiscriminate  crowds,  and  the  diver- 
sions that  are  suited  to  obliterate  all  thought  of  God, — it  is 
easy  to  see  that  it  must  stimulate  the  very  elements  of  lawless- 
ness and  demoralization  already  so  rife  among  us.  Could 
a  community,  that  on  the  Sunday  close  their  Courts  of  Justice, 
and  suspend  the  service  of  civil  process,  with  any  consistency 
assume  the  prerogative  of  dispensing,  on  the  public  grounds  and 
at  the  common  cost,  all  facilities  and  enticements  for  the  dis- 
crediting of  that  same  day,  in  whose  honor  they  bade  Justice 
shut  her  gates  and  still  her  oracles  ?  We  would  submit  that  with 
a  view  to  the  preservation  of  the  public  property  of  the  Park 
itself,  as  well  as  with  reference  to  infinitely  higher  claims  of  pub- 
lic duty,  the  Commissioners  should  scrupulously  and  persistently 
aim  to  strengthen  those  moral  and  legal  restraints  which  form 
the  only  security  for  free  institutions,  and  to  discourage  and 
rebuke  the  spirit  of  lawlessness  which  would  evade  or  defy  both 
human  and  Divine  enactments. 


OUR   CENTRAL    PARK.  7 

5.  The  previous  considerations,  relating  solely  to  the  civil  Sab- 
bath, and  to  the  rights  of  Christian  citizens,  and  the  interests  of  the 
community  under  our  constitution  and  laws,  may  be  expected, 
perhaps,  to  claim  the  assent  of  the  great  body  of  good  citizens. 
There  are  otlier  and  higher  views  of  this  question  which  we 
would  not  obtrude,  and  which  we  need  not  withhold — views 
which  no  public  body  can  ignore  or  fail  to  respect.  We  allude 
to  the  fact  that  nearly  the  entire  Christian  community,  Protes- 
tant and  Catholic,  believe  the  Lord's  Day  to  be  a  sacred  day. 
They  maj^  and  do  differ  as  to  their  theories  of  this  institution. 
Some  trace  the  obligation  for  its  sacred  observance  to  the 
Bible — some  to  church  appointment.  With  these  theories  pub- 
lic men  or  bodies  have  nothing  to  do ;  but  they  have  to  do  with 
the yac^.  And  the  right,  if  it  were  claimed — as  it  has  not  been  in 
this  country — to  pervert  public  grounds  and  public  funds  to  the 
inauguration  and  support  of  a  system  in  direct  and  open  hostil- 
ity to  the  most  sacred  convictions  of  the  religious  community, 
could  not  be  conceded.  Christian  men  are  reluctant  to  urge  a 
question  of  right  like  this.  They  have  borne  long  and  patiently 
with  the  invasion  of  usages  and  rights  dear  to  them  as  their 
faith,  and  essential  to  the  vitality  and  perpetuity  of  that  faith. 
But  they  have  rights:  they  know  what  they  are;  and  they 
are  not  prepared  to  relinquish  them.  Among  them  is  the 
unquestionable  claim,  that  they  shall  not  be  robbed  of  their 
Sacred  day,  and  that  no  public  regulations  shall  be  made  for 
promoting  its  desecration,  or  that  will  wantonly  offend  their 
well-known  convictions  as  to  its  moral  and  religious  uses  and 
benefits.  An  infidel  press,  whose  pecuniary  interests  conspire 
with  its  opposition  to  Christianity  to  prompt  the  overthrow  of 
the  Sabbath,  may  laud  the  Central  Park  converted  into  the  cen- 
tral source  of  Sunday  profanations,  as  "the  Great  Civilizer,"  in 
contrast  with,  and  to  the  disparagement  of,  the  Christian  church 
and  its  institutions.  The  men  whose  names  and  money  and 
influence  are  rarely  found  in  connection  with  our  great  humane 
and  eleemosynary  enterprises,  may  boast  a  superior  wisdom  and 
philanthropy  in  dealing  with  pauperism,  vice,  and  crime,  to  the 
body  of  Christian  citizens  who  work  and  give  without  grudging 
and  without  boasting.  But  we  submit,  that  it  is  not  for  the  man- 
agers of  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  beneficent  of  our  public 


8  OUR  CENTRAL   PARK. 

works  to  lend  either  their  corporate  example  or  influence  in  sup- 
port of  such  views,  nor  to  grieve  the  whole  of  the  very  class  in 
society  whose  religion  itself  is  the  basis  and  support  of  law  and 
good  government,  and  whose  influence  forms  the  grand  bulwark 
against  the  vices  and  evils  which  afflict  society  and  threaten  to 
undermine  or  overthrow  our  social  and  political  fabric. 

Inasmuch,  then,  as  the  introduction  of  a  system  of  Sunday 
diversions  in  the  Central  Park,  after  the  European  model,  would 
be  a  dangerous  innovation  on  the  immemorial  usages  and  the 
ineradicable  convictions  of  our  country,  and  one  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  limit  or  control ;  as  it  would  contravene  the  gen- 
ius of  our  laws  and  institutions  ;  as  it  would  be  partial  and  un- 
just toward  a  large  class  of  citizens  ;  as  it  would  result  in  popu- 
lar demoralization ;  and  as  it  would  offend  the  convictions  and 
invade  the  rights  of  the  entire  Christian  community,  it  is  claimed 
that  the  regulations  of  the  Commissioners  in  this  behalf  shall  be 
such  as  neither  to  offend  nor  corrupt  the  public  conscience.  Thus 
administered — in  strict  consistency  with  American  and  Chris- 
tian convictions — it  will  be  an  untold  blessing  to  the  city,  and 
an  abiding  monument  of  the  liberality  and  fidelity  of  its  foun- 
ders and  managers. 

NORMAN  WHITE,   Chairman. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER,  HORACE  HOLDEN, 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D.,  JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 

NATHAN  BISHOP,  GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  WM.  A.  SMITH, 

ROBERT  CARTER,  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 

WARREN  CARTER,  W.  F.  VAN  WAGBNEN, 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS,  WILLIAM  WALKER. 

E.  L.  FANCHER,  F.  S.  WINSTON. 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER,  0.  E.  WOOD, 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,   Corresponding  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Cashier  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer. 


53 


D 


SABBATH  COMMITTEE'S  OFFICE,  21  BIBLE  HOUSE,  NEW  YORK 


THE  CIVIL  SABBATH  UESTOEED. 


1.  Suppression  of  Sunday  Theatres. 

2.  Restraint   of  the   Sunday  Liquor 

Traffic. 

3.  Our  Central  Park. 

4.  Mission  Among  the  G-ermans. 

5.  Aid  of  the  Ne^^rspaper  Press. 

6.  The  Sabbath  in  Other  Cities  and 

States. 

7.  Concluding  Suggestions. 


MEETING  AT  IRVING  HALL.-Addresses  of  Messrs. 
"White,  Cook,  Beekman,  the  Rev,  Mr.  Ganse,  and  thel  Rev. 
Dr.  Hitchcock,  and  the  Letter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spring. 

Presentment  of  Liquor  Dealers'  Association?  for  Conspir- 
acy: .Judge  Hoffman's  Opinion:  Constitution  of  German 
Shaker  Congregation. 


\ 
DOCUMETS^T  Xu.  XV. 


TIJE  NEW  ^()Klv  SABBATH  COMAri'iTEE. 


EnWAUn    O.    JBKKIN«,    PniNTKK,  20    NOinil    WTI.I.IAM    ST.,    Sew    YORK. 


[Document  No.  XV. 


THE  CIVIL  SABBATH  RESTORED. 


The  outward  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  is  believed  to  be 
more  general  in  the  city  than  at  any  previous  period  of  its  recent  history. 
The  more  offensive  forms  of  desecration  have  been  suppressed.  Laws 
for  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace  and  the  restraint  of  temptation 
to  vice  on  the  day  of  rest  are  well  enforced.  And  the  public  sentiment 
in  favor  of  a  quiet,  orderly  Sabbath  is  more  unanimous  and  intelligent 
than  has  been  manifested  within  a  generation.  Brief  as  has  been  the 
period  within  which  so  large  a  community  has  passed  from  a  Sunday 
characterized  by  traffic,  noise,  drunkenness,  and  vice,  to  a  Sabbath 
marked  by  refreshing  stillness  and  general  sobriety  ;  and  rapid  as  has 
been  the  change  from  the  general  disregard  of  Sunday  laws  as  obsolete, 
to  their  vigorous  enforcement  and  to  the  enactment  and  execution  of 
new  laws,  it  is  a  matter  of  special  gratification  that  the  reform  has  ad- 
vanced to  its  present  stage  without  the  least  reaction,  notwithstanding 
the  persistent  opposition  and  misrepresentation  of  interested  parties. 
We  w'ould  gratefully  ascribe  these  results  to  the  gracious  Providence 
by  whose  guidance  and  blessing  this  good  woi'k  has  been  achieved ;  and 
implicitly  trust  that  Providence  for  the  future  of  the  Sabbath  reform. 

Suppression  of  Sunday  Theatres. 

The  most  prominent  of  the  reforms  attempted  by  the  committee  dur- 
ing the  past  year,  has  been  the  suppression  of  the  Sunday  theatres ;  and 
the  issues  involved  in  this  undertaking  have  been  sufficiently  important 
to  warrant  a  somewhat  detailed  record  of  its  progress  and  results. 

Perhaps  no  single  circumstance  illustrates  the  perilous  lapse  of  Sab- 
bath sentiment,  from  which  we  are  happily  delivered,  than  the  fact  that 
a  score  of  Sunday  theatres  should  have  existed — some  of  them  for  many 
years — attended  by  thousands  of  our  irreligious  population,  without  the 
knowledge  of  Christian  citizens,  and  without  remonstrance  or  restraint 
on  the  part  of  our  public  authorities.  Assuming  the  guise  of  "  sacred 
concerts,"  and  mostly  located  in  what  has  become  the  "■  foreign  quarter  " 
of  the  city,  they  had  attained  a  gigantic  growth  before  their  character 
and  influence  arrested  public  attention.  Then  it  was  found  that  they 
concentrated  the  multiform  appliances  of  debasing  pleasure — comedies, 
farces,  obscene  songs,  dances,  gambling,  drinking,  and  nameless  vices 
and  temptations  to  vice — all  in  special  activity  on  the  Sabbath  day.. 


Indeed,  the  receipts  of  Sunday  were  depended  upon  to  make  good  the 
losses  of  the  week,  and  to  afford  sufficient  profits  to  sustain  large,  ex- 
pensive, and  otherwise  profitless  establishments.  Nor  were  these  con- 
cerns confined  to  the  foreign  population,  or  the  "  foreign  quarter  "  of 
the  city.  The  bad  example  found  worse  imitators  among  our  own  de- 
praved citizens.  "  Concert-rooms  "  and  "  saloons  "  began  to  multiply 
hi  various  thoroughfares.  Broadway  glittered  with  transparencies,  pro- 
claiming the  transparent  falsehood  that  "  sacred  concerts "  would  be 
given  on  Sunday  nights  : — such  "  concerts,"  with  such  accompaniments, 
as  would  not  be  tolerated  on  any  day  in  the  corruptest  capitols  of 
Europe  ; — "  sacred  "  to  Bacchus  and  Venus  !  One  of  the  principal 
features  of  this  American  adaptation  of  the  Sunday  theatre  system,  as 
advertised  and  practiced,  was  the  introduction  of  scores  of  abandoned 
female  attendants  on  the  juvenile  thieves  and  other  youthful  guests 
comprising  the  bulk  of  patrons  of  these  infamous  dens. 

The  committee's  document  on  '''Sunday  theatres,  sacred  concerts,  and 
beer  gardens,^''  (No.  11,)  was  intended  to  expose  this  system  of  evil,  and 
to  concentrate  upon  it  a  righteous  public  sentiment  that  should  render 
its  continuance  impossible.  It  was  obvious  that  no  consistent  progress 
could  be  made  in  regaining  popular  respect  for  the  Sabbath,  so  long  as 
a  worse  than  Parisian  desecration  of  it  obtruded  itself  upon  our  prin- 
cipal thoroughfares,  and  in  the  advertising  columns  of  our  widely  cir- 
culated journals.  But  it  was  found  that  our  laws,  enacted  before  such  a 
system  had  a  l)eing  in  this  country,  provided  no  adequate  specific  remedy  ; 
and  tliat  the  penalties  for  offenses  of  this  class  were  too  inconsiderable 
to  restrain  men  whose  selfishness  mocked  at  human  and  divine  laws. 

The  attention  of  the  Legislature  having  been  directed  to  this  state  of 
things,  a  law  was  passed,  April  17,  1860,"  to  "  Preserve  the  public 
peace  and  order  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  commonly  called  Sun- 
day,"— the  first  Sunday  act  in  this  State,  it  is  believed,  since  that  of 
1813, — forbidding  public  theatrical  exhibitions,  and  kindred  entertain- 
inents  on  that  day,  under  a  penalty  of  1^500,  to  be  sued  for  and  recov- 
ered by  the  Society  for  the  Reformation  of  Juvenile  Delinquents  ;  be- 
sides the  penalty  provided  by  law  for  a  misdemeanor.  Performances 
on  Sunday  also  vacate  any  license  for  theatrical  exhibitions  on  other 
days. 

The  passage  of  this  law  was  strenuously  resisted  by  the  jjroprietors 
of  Sunday  theatres,  brewers  of  lager,  and  a  portion  of  the  German 
population.  An  association  was  formed  to  defeat  its  enactment,  or  to 
resist  its  enf(,)rcement.  Funds  were  raised  by  initiation  fees  for  mem- 
bership, and  l)y  a  tax  on  each  barrel  of  beer  sold.  Expensive  delega- 
tions were  sent  to  the  Legislature,  and  petitions  were  circulated  for  the 
""  Repeal  of  the  Sunday  laws  as  unconstitutional,  inasmuch  as  they  de- 
prive citizens  of  their  civil  and  religious  liberties ;  "  and  remonstrating 


against  the  passage  of  the  then  pending  act.  When  their  petition  and 
remonstrance  reached  Albany,  its  signatures  had  been  transferred,  in 
part,  to  a  memorial  to  the  Governor,  purporting  to  come  from  "  citizens 
of  the  city  of  New  York ; "  and  of  the  317  names,  306  could  not  be 
found  in  the  Directory,  and  the  remaining  11  were  "saloon"  keepers 
and  grocers  !  The  petitions  for  the  law  were  signed  by  about  1,400 
Germans — mostly  of  the  Directory  class.  The  Sunday  newspapers, 
German  and  English,  gave  their  influence  to  defeat  the  passage  of  this 
act,  and  some  of  them  counselled  forcible  resistance  to  its  execution. 
One  of  them  declares,  that  "  a  law  framed  by  creatures  so  vile,  and  a 
law  so  violative  of  every  man's  inalienable  and  guaranteed  rights,  is 
null  and  void  of  itself.  No  citizen  owes  it  obedience.  Resist  it,  we 
say  !  Resist  it  like  men  and  freemen  ! "  And  factious  counsels  of 
this  character  were  eagerly  copied  into  the  German  journals. 

They  did  "  Resist  it,"  one  and  all,  with  the  avowed  purpose  and  ex- 
pectation of  overriding  our  authorities,  and  by  the  force  of  numbers 
and  money  rendering  the  statute  inoperative.  Theatrical  performances 
continued  as  before — with  superadded  flings  at  the  laws  and  institutions 
of  the  country,  and  the  utterance  of  seditious,  atheistical,  and  blasphe- 
mous sentiments  from  the  stage.  The  reporters  of  the  press  were 
hung  in  effigy,  and  the  police  authorities  were  reviled  in  advertise 
ments  and  plays.  The  spirit  of  rebellion  was  too  rampant  for  its  own 
ends,  and  exhausted  itself  by  its  own  violence. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  German  theatre  proprietors  resorted  to 
the  expedient  of  announcing  his  Sunday  theatre  as  a  "  Shaker  congre- 
gation," and  his  comedies  and  farces  as  part  of  their  "  religious  wor- 
ship ! "  And  this  shallow  device  was  gravely  set  up  in  his  defence  on 
a  civil  suit,  and  was  soberly  urged  before  a  jury  on  a  criminal  trial. 
The  "  constitution  "  of  this  Shaker  congregation  is  given  in  the  appendix 
as  a  part  of  the  history  of  this  contest. 

Enforcement  of  the  Laws.  . 

When  it  became  obvious  that  the  law  was  to  be  persistently  defied, 
the  serious  issue  was  accepted  with  pain,  but  without  misgiving  as  to 
the  result.  Step  by  step,  the  various  remedies  provided  have  been 
applied,  with  uniform  success,  as  a  brief  sketch  of  the  proceedings  will 
show. 

Besides  the  numerous  arrests  made  by  the  police,  and  the  subsequent 
indictments  by  the  grand  jury  for  misdemeanor,  the  Board  of  the  Ju- 
venile Delinquent  Asylum,  charged  with  the  civil  prosecutions  under 
the  law, — as  they  have  been  with  the  prosecutions  against  illegal  theat- 
rical performances  for  twenty  years, — directed  their  counsel  to  enforce 
its  provisions  against  some  of  the  more  notorious  offenders.  Injunc- 
tion orders  were  issued  from  the  Supreme  Court,  either  to  restrain  Sun- 


day  performances,  or  performances  without  license,  or  to  vacate  licenses 
already  obtained,  which  were  forfeited  by  violation  of  the  law.  In 
two  instances  the  parties  were  attached  for  contempt  of  court,  and  fined 
respectively  $2C0  and  $250.  It  was  on  the  hearing  of  one  of  these 
cases  before  Judge  Bonney,  that  Mr.  Cram,  the  high-minded  counsel, 
indignant  at  the  trickery  and  lawlessness  of  the  prisoner,  made  the  em- 
phatic declaration,  on  which  he  has  since  acted  with  great  moderation, 
firmness,  and  energy  :  "This  man,  and  the  men  of  his  class,  sltnll  obey 
the  laios.  If  I  do  nothing  else  the  rest  of  my  life,  these  men  shall  obey 
the  lau's  of  this  land.''''  As  the  result  of  this  trial,  and  of  other  legal 
measures  rendered  necessary  by  the  contumacy  of  the  offenders,  one  of 
the  most  dangerous  and  troublesome  of  our  German  beer  garden  gen- 
try, previously  bankrupt  in  fortune  and  character,  transferred  his  estab- 
lishment to  other  hands,  and  has  sought  another  field  for  his  enterprise. 
In  the  other  case,  an  appeal  was  taken  to  the  General  Term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  where  the  decision  of  Judge  Bonney  in  chambers  was  af- 
firmed. 

Other  suits  against  the  same  and  other  proprietors  of  German 
theatres  are  still  pending.  In  the  case  of  the  Stadt  theatre,  the  ques- 
tion of  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  came  up  for  argument  on  de- 
murrer, before  Justice  Hoffman,  of  the  Superior  Court;  and  after  a  full 
hearing,  an  elaborate  affirmative  decision  of  the  Judge  was  rendered, 
[See  Appendix  for  abstract  of  opinion.]  The  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
and  Superior  Courts  and  of  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  have  seve- 
rally confirmed  the  constitutionality  of  the  law.  It  may  be  presumed 
that  the  Court  of  last  resort  will  decide  the  question  in  accordance  with 
the  uniform  legislation  and  jurisprudence  of  the  State  from  its  foundation. 

Proceedings  were  also  commenced  against  the  various  concert  halls 
on  Broadway  and  elsewhere,  which  were  enjoined  from  theatrical  exhi- 
bitions without  license,  and  to  collect  the  penalty  for  Sunday  perform- 
ances. Some  of  them  paid  for  licenses,  and  abandoned  their  exhibi- 
tions ;  others  elt)sed  their  places  altogether.  None  of  them  have  since 
given  Sunday  performances. 

The  trial  of  the  indictments,  before  the  criminal  courts,  was  delayed 
on  various  pretexts  from  term  to  term,  until  the  November  term  of  the 
Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  Judge  Gould  presiding,  when  Gustav 
Lindenmuller  was  arraigned.  His  defense,  conducted  by  able  counsel, 
consisted  of  the  "  Shaker-congregation "  plea.  The  prosecution  was 
conducted  by  Mr.  Anthon,  assistant  District  Attorney.  The  charge  of 
Judge  Gould  was  a  manly  rebuke  of  lawlessness.  The  jury,  after  an 
absence  of  twenty-four  hours, — a  single  German  juror  standing  out 
against  a  verdict, — convicted  the  prisoner,  and  the  Court  imposed  a  fine 
of  1250.  An  appeal  was  taken,  on  the  ground  of  the  unconstitution- 
ality of  the  law,  to  the  Supreme  Court.     Until  this  test  case  is  finally 


adjudicated,  it  is  supposed  the  other  trials  will  be  postponed,  to  abide 
the  result. 

Meanwhile,  the  Metropolitan  Police  have  made  arrests  of  several 
companies  of  actors,  who  occupied  small  halls,  and  attempted  unlawful 
exhibitions :  the  energetic  Superintendent  avowing  his  purpose  to  deal 
thus  summarily  in  all  similar  cases. 

Tlie  result  of  these  various  measures  has  been  the  entire  cessation  of 
Sunday  theatricals  in  this  city,  the  abandonment  of  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  largest  and.  vilest  places  of  popular  debasement,  and.  the 
subjection  to  law  of  all  the  theatres  in  the  city,  with  the  general  ap- 
proval of  citizens,  and  with  untold  advantage  to  public  morals.  The 
incidental  pecuniary  loss  to  the  proprietors — one  of  whom  estimates  his 
share  at  $4,000  in  six  months — is  a  timely  gain  to  the  poor  people  from 
whom  their  earnings  would  otherwise  have  been  filched.  And  the  im- 
provement in  health,  thrift,  and  self-respect  of  the  thousands  who  form- 
erly sacrificed  their  manhood,  and  often  their  souls,  at  these-  altars  of 
pleasure  and  vice,  may  be  regarded  as  more  than  a  compensation  for 
the  individual  losses  of  a  few  lawless  saloon-keepers. 

Notice  has  been  given  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature  of  bills  for 
the  repeal  of  the  law  thus  beneficent  in  its  operation.  But,  inasmuch 
as  none  but  interested  parties  demand,  it,  and  the  united  sentiment  of 
good  citizens  sustains  the  statute,  little  apprehension  of  success  is  enter- 
tained. Certain  it  is  that  no  law  was  ever  passed  more  accordant  with 
the  principles  and  wishes  of  the  law-abiding  classes,  and  none  was  ever 
executed  more  efliciently,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances,  or  with 
more  manifest  acceptance  and  benefit. 

Before  passing  from  this  topic,  it  should  be  stated  that  some  estab- 
lishments, formerly  conducted  as  theatres,  still  continue  a  modified 
profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  by  musical  entertainments,  beer-selling,  and 
Yarious  sports  ;  and  some  of  them  still  attract  crowds.  But,  the  grow- 
ing respect  for  law  and  public  sentiment  among  the  Germans,  and  the 
increasing  energy  and  vigilance  of  the  police  and  the  courts,  with  waning 
profits  of  Sunday  immoralities,  may  be  hoped  to  bring  this  whole  sys- 
tem to  an  end,  without  further  legislative  restraint. 

Restraint  of  the   Sunday  Liquor  Trafiic. 

The  reorganization  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police,  and  the  changes  made  in  the  office  of  General  Superintendent, 
caused  a  somewhat  irregular  enforcement  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  law 
during  the  year.  Under  all  the  circumstances,  there  is  much  ground 
for  encouragement  in  the  attitude  of  the  Police  authorities,  in  the 
aspects  of  the  reform,  and  in  the  results  already  achieved.  The  annual 
Report  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  Legislature  and  the  annual  Message 


of  the  Governor  of  the  State  concur  in  their  recognition  of  the  benefi- 
cent influence  of  this  movement,  and  in  commending  the  efficiency  of 
the  Police  force  in  carrying  it  forward.  But  the  most  eloquent  tribute 
alike  to  the  law  and  its  agents,  and  to  the  Institution  whose  morality  is 
thus  vindicated,  is  furnished  by  the  statistical  records  of  the  Police 
Department. 

From  the  summary  of  daily  returns  of  arrests  for  drunkenness, 
disorder  and  crime — for  vv^hich  we  would  acknowledge  our  indebtedness 
to  the  courtesy  of  General  Superintendent  Kennedy,  and  the  pains- 
taking politeness  of  Chief-Clerk  Hawley — we  are  enabled  to  present  the 
following  comparative  statement  of  Sunday  and  week-day  crime,  em- 
bracing a  period  of  eighteen  months.  It  appears  that  between  August 
1,  1859 — the  date  of  Gen.  Pilsbury's  or(3er  closing  the  Sunday  liquor 
shops — and  February  1,  1861,  the  whole  number  of  arrests  on  Tues- 
days and  Sundays  was  as  follows  : 

Arrests  by  Police  in  18  months : 

On  Tuesdays 15,503 

On  Sundays 10,483 


Excess  on  Tuesdays  ....       5,020 

The  excess  of  Tuesday  arrests  is  equal  to  ßfty  per  cent. 

Under  the  old  regime,  but  after  the  establishment  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police,  (he  ratio  of  arrests  on  Sunday  loas  Iwenty-five  2ier  cent,  greater  than 
on  Tuesday^  during  a  similar  period  of  eighteen  months.  Had  that 
ratio  been  maintained — as  it  would  have  been  but  for  the  suppression 
of  the  Sunday  liquor  traffic — the  statistics  of 

Arrests  for  the  last  18  mon^/is  would  have  been: 

On  Sundays 19,379 

Actual  arrests  on  Sundays  .         .         .     10,483 

Total  relative  decrease  of  Sunday  crime    .       8,896 

The  arrests  for  violations  of  Sunday  laws,  473  in  all,  are  excluded 
from  these  statistics,  that  the  comparison  may  be  just  and  accurate. 

We  would  not  exaggerate  the  value  of  these  statements.  We  are 
aw\are  of  the  imperfection  of  such  data.  But,  extending  as  they  do 
over  a  considerable  period,  embracing  adequate  elements  of  comparison, 
furnished  on  request  from  official  records,  and  affording  the  only  known 
means  of  ascertaining  the  practical  results  of  an  important  reformatory 
movement,  they  would  seem  to  demonstrate  beyond  cavil  the  insepar- 
able connection  between  Sunday  liquor-selling  and  crime,  and  to  vindi- 


cate  the  wisdom  and  necessity  of  the  utter  suppression  of  that  demo- 
ralizing traffic. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  weekly  details  which  form  the  aggregate 
returns  cited  above,  in  connection  with  the  movements  of  the  Police 
authorities,  shows  a  rising  or  falling  scale  of  crime  and  disorder,  as 
regular  and  certain  as  the  response  of  the  thermometer  to  varying 
degrees  of  temperature.  Thus,  the  Sunday  arrests  have  declined  to  61 
after  a  few  weeks  of  earnest  attention  to  this  matter  ;  and  have  again 
risen  to  216,  when  comparative  neglect  gave  impunity  to  selfish  law- 
lessness. 

The  vigorous  action  inaugurated  by  General  Superintendent  Kennedy, 
two  months  since,  in  ordering  the  summary  arrest  and  confinement  in 
the  station-houses  of  open  offenders,  had  an  immediate  influence  on  the 
Sunday  traffic  and  its  results.  Many  dealers  who  counted  on  the 
tolerance  of  their  unlawful  business,  or  on  protection  from  punishment 
by  the  intervention  of  the  Liquor  Dealers'  Association,  or  the  venality 
of  courts,  succumbed  in  view  of  the  direct  and  summary  policy  of 
the  Superintendent.  As  a  consequence,  the  arrests  for  drunkenness  and 
crime  for  the  last  two  months  have  been  far  less  than  the  average  for 
the  last  eighteen  months. 

We  have  the  highest  legal  authority  for  the  opinion  that  the  powers 
entrusted  to  the  Police,  both  by  statutory  and  common-law,  extend  far 
beyond  the  limit  of  their  present  exercise.  Leaving  out  of  view,  as 
beyond  our  province,  the  competency  of  the  Police  authorities  to  close 
every  unlicensed  dram-shop, — and  some  7,000  are  unlicensed  and  so  un- 
lawful,— it  is  their  unquestioned  right  and  duty  to  prevent  ingress  and 
egress  for  Sunday  tipplers  at  any  and  all  places  where  intoxicating 
drinks  are  habitually  sold.  Whether  it  be  by  front  doors  or  back 
doors,  if  the  public  enter  and  depart  on  the  single  bad  errand,  the 
police  may  enter  and  make  arrests,  or  they  may  cause  the  doors  to  be 
shut  and  kept  shut.  The  attitude  of  lawlessness  on  the  part  of  un- 
licensed dram-sellers,  and  the  apparent  subjection  of  a  portion  of  our 
Judicial  officers  to  their  interests,  warrants  and  requires  the  fullest 
exercise  of  legal  powers  by  the  Police  for  the  restraint  or  punishment 
of  the  notorious  authors  of  a  principal  part  of  the  crime,  disorder  and 
pauperism  of  the  city. 

It  is  not  easy  to  reconcile  the  course  of  the  Law  Officers  of  the  city 
in  relation  to  this  class  of  offijnders  with  the  duties  assigned  to  them 
by  the  Statute,  and  the  interests  entrusted  to  them  by  the  people.  It 
certainly  forms  no  part  of  the  design  of  our  criminal  code  that  innu- 
merable complaints  against  a  class  of  offi?.nders  whose  daily  avocation 
is  the  palpable  cause  of  nine-tenths  of  the  crimes  cognisant  to  our 
courts,  should  be  ignored,  deferred,  and  never  adjudicated,  and  justice 
only  have  to  do  with  the  victims  of  an    avowedly  unlawful  business : 


yet,  such  is  its  practical  administration.  Nearly  two  years  ago,  con- 
victions were  had  in  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  against  twelve 
offenders  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  hiw.  The  parties  appealed  on  frivolous 
grounds  ;  and  the  final  ruling  of  the  higher  courts  was  to  govern  tens 
of  thousands  of  similar  complaints.  The  status  of  an  immense  traffic, 
pursued  by  thousands  of  our  citizens,  and  important  rights  of  the  people 
were  to  be  determined  by  the  issue.  Repeated  demands  have  beeu' 
made  by  the  press  for  the  argument  and  decision  of  the  questions  in 
dispute.  But,  for  aught  that  appears,  the  case  remains  where  it  was  in 
June,  1859 — unargued  and  undecided!  The  counsel  of  the  Liquor 
Dealers'  Association  remains  content  Mith  his  $5,000  a  year ;  and  the 
Officers  of  Justice  charged  with  this  matter  expose  themselves  to  grave 
suspicions  as  to  their  fidelity  to  public  interests. 

We  cite  in  the  Appendix  a  highly  suggestive  Presentment  of  the 
Grand  Jury,  bearing  on  this  matter. 

An  incidental  effect  of  the  agitation  of  the  Sunday  Liquor  question, 
and  the  enforcement  of  the  law  against  Sunday  dram-selling,  has  been 
the  somewhat  increased  efficiency  of  the  Board  of  Excise.  Instead  of 
extending  the  sixty  days  of  their  sessions  over  the  entire  year,  as  for- 
merly, they  were  held  consecutively,  and  public  notice  given  that  on 
the  expiration  of  the  time  no  farther  licenses  could  be  procured  within 
the  year,  and  that  all  unlicensed  dealers  would  be  prosecuted.  Not- 
withstanding the  resistance  of  the  Liquor  Dealers'  Associations,  the 
number  of  applications  for  license  increased  from  332  in  1859  to  about 
1,400  in  1860  ;  and  not  far  from  $-40,000  were  paid  into  the  city  treas- 
ury on  this  account — 10  p.  c.  of  which  sum  has  been  paid  over  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  Inebriate's  Asylum.  How  far  the  just  claim  of 
parties  who  have  thus  obeyed  the  law — that  they  shall  be  protected 
from  unlawful  competition — has  been  heeded  by  our  authorities,  we 
are  not  informed.  The  liability,  however,  of  the  vigorous  enforcement 
of  the  Law  against  Intemperance  of  1857,  has  led  to  an  application  to 
the  present  Legislature  for  its  modification  or  repeal. 

Two  important  decisions  have  been  made  in  the  Court  of  Appeals — 
one  within  the  year — both  of  which  have  an  incidental  bearing  on  the 
Sunday  traffic.  In  the  case  of  Behau,  Plaintiff  in  Error,  vs.  the  People, 
it  was  decided  that  offenses  against  the  Excise  Law  of  1857  are  pun- 
ishable as  misdemeanors :  so  that  the  Sunday  sales,  by  parties  licensed 
or  unlicensed,  may  be  dealt  with  as  a  criminal  offense,  and  arrests  may 
be  made  without  w'arrant. 

In  the  case  of  the  Excise  Commissioners  of  Tompkins  county  against 
Taylor  &  McWhorter,  the  Court  decided  that  Ale  and  Beer  come  with- 
in the  provisions  of  chap.  628  of  1857,  to  suppress  intemperance : 
"  any  liquor  being  within  the  Statute,  of  w^hich  the  human  stomach  can 
contain  enough  to  produce  intoxication."     Under  this  decision  the  sale 


9 

of  Lager-beer  is  virtually  placed  on  the  same  footing  with  other 
liquors  ;  and  the  shameful  Sunday  traffic  in  that  beverage  may  and 
should  be  suppressed. 

Sunday  Gambling. 

The  General  Superintendent  of  Police  has  entered  on  vigorous  mea- 
sures to  put  an  end  to  the  various  forms  of  Sunday  gambling  which 
have  disgraced  the  city.  Under  his  personal  direction,  numerous 
arrests  have  been  made,  and  parties  engaged  in  the  evil  practice  have 
been  fined  by  the  magistrates.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  measure 
will  be  persevered  in,  until  this  form  of  immorality  shall  be  extermin- 
ated. 

Our  Central  Park. 

As  this  favorite  public  pleasure-ground  became  available  for  its  im- 
portant uses,  the  question  of  its  Sunday  regulations  became  a  matter 
of  practical  interest.  It  was  seen  by  good  citizens,  and  by  property- 
holders  in  its  neighborhood,  that  if  perverted  into  an  arena  for  holiday- 
sports  on  that  day,  after  the  manner  of  Continental  Parks,  the  injury 
to  public  morals  would  more  than  counterbalance  its  sanitary  benefits, 
and  that  millions  of  money  would  have  been  expended  for  the  farther 
demoralization  of  the  masses.  The  Committee  gave  expression  to 
what  they  believed  to  be  timely  and  temperate  views  as  to  the  prin- 
ciples that  should  control  the  Sunday  arrangements  of  the  Central 
Park,  in  a  communication  addressed  to  the  respected  Commissioners. 
Confessedly  difficult  as  were  the  questions  discussed,  it  is  a  matter  of 
satisfaction  to  know  that  the  Press  and  the  public — with  exceptions 
confined  to  anti-Sunday  interests — accepted  and  concurred  in  the  senti- 
ments thus  set  forth  ;  and  a  majority  at  least  of  the  Commissioners 
are  understood  to  cherish  and  act  upon  substantially  similar  views.  It 
is  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  the  beginnings  of  invasion  of  the  well- 
established  laws  and  usages  of  this  country  as  to  Sabbath  occupations, 
will  be  resisted  within  the  beautiful  enclosure  intended  to  illustrate  the 
civilization,  refinement,  and  wealth  of  this  metropolis  of  a  christian 
land. 

The  Harlem  Sunday  Railway  Trains. 

It  was  with  regret  that  a  departure  was  noticed  from  the  general 
policy  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  Company,  in  the  multiplication  of  Lo- 
comotive trains  on  Sunday,  for  the  accommodation  of  Central  Park 
travel.  At  one  time  not  far  from  eighty  trains  a  day  were  run,  back 
and  forth,  giving  employment  to  scores  of  men  and  horses,  and  caus- 
ing an  incessant  din  and  disturbance  at  the  termini,  or  along  the  route 
of  communication.  It  was  gratifying  to  learn  that  when  the  matter 
came  under  the  consideration  of  the  respected  Directors,  the  arrange- 


10 

ments  wore  countermanded  and  the  annoyance  for    the    most    part 
ceased. 

Mission   among  the  Germans. 

The  control  of  the  German  popular  Press  l3eing  exclusively  in  the 
hands  of  the  foes  of  the  Sabbath,  almost  the  only  mode  of  access  to  the 
people  of  that  nationality  has  been  through  the  agency  of  a  missionary, 
by  whose  visits  from  house  to  house  with  the  distribution  of  German 
documents  and  tracts,  prejudices  might  be  removed  and  truth  be  dis- 
seminated. Such  labors  have  been  continued  during  the  year.  At  the 
same  time,  it  was  necessary  to  be  informed  of  the  doings  at  the  thea- 
tres and  gardens,  and  to  have  timely  intelligence  of  the  action  of  Ger- 
man anti-Sunday  gatherings  and  associations  for  opposing  or  resisting 
the  laws.  The  most  formidable  conspiracies  are  rendered  powerless 
by  the  exposure  of  their  objects  and  plans. 

The  monthly  reports  from  the  German  quarter  indicate  a  growing 
feeling  of  self-respect,  and  a  rising  sympathy  with  the  prevailing  sen- 
timent in  this  country  regarding  the  Sabbath.  There  is  a  recoil  from 
the  excesses  of  the  beer-garden  gentry.  Honest  minded  Germans  de- 
nounce the  hypocrisy  of  their  countrymen  who  resort  to  the  blind  of 
"  Sacred  Concerts "  and  "  Shaker  Congregations  "  as  a  cover  for  Sun- 
day amusements  ;  so  that  the  heartiest  rejoicings  over  the  suppression 
of  this  scandalous  system  come  from  respectable  Germans  themselves. 
Nor  are  the  occurrences  which  have  embarrassed  so  many  of  the  me- 
chanical and  laboring  classes  likely  to  lessen  their  content  with  the 
operation  of  laws  by  which  temptations  to  wastefulness  and  vice  have 
been  removed,  and  thousands  of  dollars  of  their  hard  earnings  have 
been  saved  to  themselves  and  their  families,  instead  of  swelling  the 
receipts  of  atheistical  ^Sabbath-breakers. 

Sabbath  Documents, 

There  have  been  printed  during  the  year  nineteen  thousand  copies  of 
Documents,  embracing  344,000  octavo  pages,  viz  :  of  German  Doc. 
No.  9 — 24  pages,  "  Proceedings  of  Cooper  histitute  Meeting  of  Ger- 
mans," 4,000  copies  ;  of  No.  12 — 24  pages,  "  Progress  of  the  Sabbath 
Keform,"  5,000;  of  No.  13—24  pages,  "The  Press  of  New  York  on 
the  Law  against  Sunday  Theatres,"  3,000  ;  of  No.  14 — 8  pages,  "  Our 
Central  Park,"  3,000  ;  of  "  German  Beer-Gardens  and  Sunday  Thea- 
tres," [4  pages — 2,000  ;  and  of  "  Sunday  Vice  and  Crime,"  4  pages — 
1,000  copies.  Of  various  minor  publications,  2,600  copies  have  been 
printed. 

Besides  the  circulation  of  these  documents  among  clergymen,  edit- 
ors, and  citizens,  English  and  German,  several  hundred  copies  of  the 
Committee's  German  Documents  have  been  distributed  in  Germany. 


11 

Aid  of  the  Newspaper  Press, 

Not  a  little  of  the  popular  sympathy  with  the  Sabbath  reform  is  due 
to  the  firm  and  moderate  tone  of  the  daily  journals  on  all  the  issues 
that  have  been  presented.  With  all  their  differences  on  other  ques- 
tions of  public  concern,  they  have  shown  a  united  front  against  the  im- 
moralities with  which  the  committee  are  contending  ;  and  have  uniform- 
ly supported  our  public  authorities,  executive  or  judicial,  in  enforcing 
the  Sunday  laws.  The  exception  in  a  single  instance  is  more  credit- 
able to  the  Sabbath  enterprise  than  to  the  journal  whose  interests  con- 
flict with  public  morals ;  and  it  is  alluded  to  more  for  the  sake  of  accu- 
rate discrimination  than  on  account  of  any  hinderance  effected  by  its 
selfish  and  tactions  policy.  It  has  only  harmed  itself  and  those  of  its 
readers  who  believe  its  falsehoods. 

The  Sunday  Press  has  lent  unwitting  aid  by  its  palpable  misrepre- 
sentations ;  by  its  extravagant  abuse  of  well-known  citizens  ;  and  by  its 
laudation  and  defence  of  convicted  criminals  and  of  unblushing  immo- 
ralities. The  habitual  tone  of  exatj^eration  and  caricature  in  all  dis- 
cussions  of  the  Sunday  question,  renders  the  Sunday  Press  powerless 
as  the  enemy  of  wise  and  necessary  measures  for  the  protection  of  the 
civil  Sabbath. 

The  German  newspapers  deal  with  this  question  in  a  more  cautious 
manner,  as  the  evidences  increase  of  the  existence  of  a  powerful  body 
of  their  readers  whose  sympathies  are  with  the  Sabbath  and  the  laws, 
rather  than  with  beer-gardens  and  theatres  ;  and  as  the  just  and  mode- 
rate claims  of  the  country  of  their  adoption  come  to  be  understood. 
Their  utter  foilure  in  the  attempt  to  drag  this  question  into  the  political 
arena  also  tended  to  moderate  their  zeal.  But  they  still  lend  them- 
selves to  the  advocacy  of  Sunday  views  and  practices  as  foreign  as 
their  language  from  American  usages  and  convictions  ;  and  they  thus 
constitute  a  power  dangerous  enough  to  be  watched  and  counteracted. 

Notwithstanding  the  engrossment  of  the  public  press  with  political 
questions  during  a  considerable  part  of  the  year,  the  aggregate  number 
of  copies  of  newspapers  containing  friendly  articles  bearing  more  or 
less  immediately  on  the  Sunday  question  printed  during  the  year — 
chiefly  the  editorials  of  secular  journals — has  exceeded  twenty -two  mil- 
lions, [22,855,500.]  Added  to  the  discussions  of  the  two  previous 
years,  it  would  make  sixty-two  millions  of  (62,119,000)  copies  of  news- 
paper articles  friendly  to  the  Sabbath,  in  the  columns  of  the  New  York 
Press. 

Visit  of  the  Great  Eastern, 

Some  apprehension  was  felt  lest  the  visit  to  our  country  last  summer 
of  this  marine  wonder  should  be  made  the  occasion  of  wholesale  Sab- 
bath desecration.  Her  launch,  trial-trip  and  sailing  day  all  having  oc- 
curred on  Sunday,  her  officers  and  consignees  were  plied  by  the  anti- 
Sabbath  Press  of  this  city  to  exhibit  her  to  the  public  on  that  day. 
But  better  counsels  prevailed.  Divine  worship  was  held  on  board  on 
each  Sunday  during  her  visit,  and  her  excursions  were  arranged  so  as 
to  avoid  the  needless  profanation  of  sacred  hours. 

An  impudent  attempt  was  made  in  September  to  invade  the  quiet  of 
the  Sabbath — one  Peter  Bogart  announcing  his  purpose  to  run  a  boat 


12 

ai-ound  Manhattan  island  on  a  wager  of  $50.  The  press  protested,  the 
police  interfered,  and  the  effort  was  abandoned. 

An  item  may  be  cited  as  significant  of  the  growing  respect  for  the 
Sabbath  in  commercial  circles.  The  custom  having  gradually  declined 
of  hoisting  ship's  colors  on  Sundays  and  holidays,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  in  July,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  recommend,  that  mas- 
ters of  vessels  in  the  port  of  New  York  hoist  their  flags  on  Sundays 
and  holidays,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  day  and  to  the  nation." 

Meeting  for  the  Sabbath  at  Saratoga. 

A  public  meeting  of  considerable  interest  was  held  at  Saratoga  in 
the  month  of  August.  Ex-President  Fillmore  presided  and  addressed 
the  meeting  ;  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Sabbath  Committee,  with  Wm. 
E.  Dodge,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and  Gov.  Buckingham,  of  Connecticut 
delivered  addresses.  A  large  audience  of  visitors  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  gave  interested  attention  to  the  statements  and  appeals  in 
behalf  of  the  christian  Sabbath. 

The  Sabbath  in  other  Cities  and  States. 

Increasing  interest  in  the  Sunday  question  is  apparent  in  various  por- 
tions of  the  Union.     We  note  some  of  the  facts  of  the  year. 

In  New  Hamjjshire,  "an  act  for  the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath" 
was  passed  July  3,  1860,  which  provides  that  "  no  person  shall  keep  open 
his  shop,  warehouse,  cellar,  restaurator,  or  workshop  for  the  reception 
of  company,  or  shall  sell,  or  expose  for  sale,  any  merchandise  what- 
ever," under  a  penalty  of  not  more  than  ten  dollars  or  imprison- 
ment not  exceeding  thirty  days ;  the  act  to  be  enforced  in  such  towns 
as  shall  adopt  the  same  by  a  majority  vote. 

In  Connecficniy.a  law  was  passed,  at  the  last  session  of  the  legisla- 
ture, prohil)iting  the  opening  of  lager-beer  saloons  on  Sunday,  under  a 
penalty  of  forty  dollars  for  each  offence. 

In  Pennsylvania,  the  attempt  to  modify  or  repeal  the  Sunday  laws 
elicited  an  able  adverse  report  from  the  committee  of  the  legislature  on 
vice  and  immorality,  which  was  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  vote. 
The  report  concludes  as  follows  ; — 

"Since  the  abrogation  of  the  Sunday  laws  would  be  absolutely  o\> 
pressivc  to  a  large  mass  of  the  laboring  people,  would  tend  directly  to 
the  increase  of  vice,  would  be  contrary  to  the  known  convictions  of  the 
patriot  worthies  of  the  past  and  in  contravention  of  all  previous  legis- 
lation, would  be  repugnant  to  the  moral  sensibilities  of  the  great  mass 
of  the  best  citizens  throughout  the  state,  and  directly  in  conflict  with 
the  statutes  of  Revelation,  therefore  w^e  submit  that  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  should  not  be  granted."  And  it  was  "  Resolved,  that  the 
abrogation  of  the  existing  Sunday  laws  would  be  unwise  in  itself,  and 
vicious  ill  its  results,  and  the  committee  are  herel)y  discharged,"  etc. 

In  Baltimore,  Md.,  a  most  remarkable  reform  has  been  effected  in  the 
condition  of  public  morals.  It  is  thus  sketched  by  the  correspondent 
of  the  Daily  Times  : — 

" There  was  a  time  when  lawlessness  and  rowdvism  ran  riot;  when 


15 

human  life  was  insecure ;  when  the  elective  franchise  had  become  a 
mockery,  and  immorality  of  every  kind  stalked  abroad.  Idleness, 
drunkenness,  vagrancy,  coupled  with  bloodshed,  murder,  rapine,  and  a 
thousand  other  evils  were  common  place.  Now,  thank  Providence,  the 
scene  is  changed.  We  have  sobriety,  with  most  of  its  concomitants. 
No  murders  are  recorded ;  robberies  seldom  occur.  Grog-shojjs  and 
hotels,  without  distinction,  are  closed  on  Sundays.  Those  who  tvoiild 
madden  their  brains  witli  liquor  on  the  Sabbath  can  not  find  places  ivhere- 
from  to  inocnre  it.  Lager-beer  resorts  are  all  closed,  and  the  consequence 
is,  our  sacred  day  of  rest  passes  off  devoutly,  soberly,  and  free  from  vio- 
lence. All  places  of  business,  excepting  barber-shops  and  printing 
offices,  together  with  such  other  pursuits  as  may  be  deemed  indispens- 
able, are  compelled  to  suspend  operations.  A  regular  crusade  is  being 
waged  by  the  chief  marshal  against  gambling-houses.  Baltimore  may 
now  be  set  down  as  amongst  the  most  orderly  cities  in  America." 

In  Cincinnati,  O.,  the  Sabbath  committee  have  initiated  some  im- 
portant reforms,  which  they  are  prosecuting  with  great  vigor.  The 
news-crying  nuisance  has  been  substantially  abated, 

"A  Sunday  Reform  Association"  w:as  formed  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in 
June  last;  John  J.  Gill,  Esq.,  president. 

"The  Narrative  of  the  State  of  Religion,"  adopted' and  published  by 
the  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  (O.  S.,)  notices  three 
important  particulars  of  the  "  influence  of  the  church  on  the  world  ;  " 
as  manifested,  "  1.  By  an  increased  and  increasing  attendance  upon  the 
preaching  of  the  Word  ;  2.  In  the  better  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day 
as  a  day  of  sacred  rest ;  3.  In  the  improvement  in  the  general  morality 
of  the  people." 

Concluding  Suggestions. 

The  fiicts  of  the  year  convey  their  own  lesson.  They  are  confidently 
appealed  to  as  a  practical  vindication  of  the  principles  of  reform  avowed 
and  acted  upon  from  the  outset  of  the  Committee's  labors.  Without 
the  prestige  of  a  great  organization,  without  public  agitation  or  con- 
troversy, important  practical  reforms,  affecting  the  peace  and  moi'als  of 
the  city,  have  been  effected, — every  measure  thus  far  undertaken  having 
been  carried  out  with  the  approbation  of  good  citizens,  and  with  unques- 
tionable public  benefit. 

One  of  the  respects  in  which  a  marked  advance  in  the  Sabbath  reform 
■may  be  noted  has  been  in  the  clearer  popular  apprehension  of  the 
claims  and  benefits  of  the  civil  Sabbath,  Unceasing  efforts  have  been 
made  to  confound  the  civil  with  the  religious  obligations  of  the  Sabbath, 
so  as  to  furnish  a  basis  for  opposition  to  Sunday  laws  in  the  constitu- 
tional guaranties  for  religious  liberty.  This  has  been  the  burden  of  the 
diatribes  of  the  Sunday  press.  The  policy  of  the  Sunday  theatres  has 
taken  this  direction, — their  godless  comedies  assuming  to  be  "sacred 
concerts,"  or  the  ivorshij)  of  "Shaker  congregations!"  But,  besides 
the  rebuke  administered  to  this  abuse  of  a  precious  right,  in  the  very 
article  of  the  Constitution  which  secures  to  every  citizen  the  rights  of 
conscience,  there  are  relations  of  the  Sabbath,  as  a  civil  institution  in- 
dispensable to  the  sanitary,  social,  and  moral  well-being  of  the  com- 
munity, which  furnish  adequate  grounds  for  existing  laws,  without  in- 


14 

volving  any  religious  questions.  The  absurdity  of  the'claim  that,  be- 
cause the  Sabbath  is  the  recognized  season  of  religious  rest  and  worship, 
it  can  not  be  protected  by  law  as  a  day  of  freedom  from  traffic,  toil, 
and  dissipation,  is  as  great  as  to  object  to  legal  guards  for  the  institution 
of  marriage,  because  it  is  also  a  Christian  ordinance  ;  or  as  to  oppose 
statutory  provision  securing  the  rights  of  property,  because  the  Deca- 
logue declares  "  Thou  shalt  not  steal."  The  utter  failure  of  the  attempt 
to  impose  the  faUacies  on  the  people,  and  the  steady  enforcement  of 
laws  which  restrained  offences  of  the  most  scandalous  character, — with- 
out invading  any  right^more  sacred  than  that  of  selling  rum  and  play- 
ing comedies  on  the  Lord's  Day, — has  served  to  settle  the  public  mind 
as  to  the  policy  and  necessity  of  guarding  the  civil  Sabbath  by  wise 
and  effective  statutes. 

Another  palpable  advance,  worthy  of  note,  has  been  in  the  successful 
enforcement  of  the  laws.  Within  a  brief  period,  it  had  almost  become 
a  proverb  that  "self-governing  institutions  were  a  failure  in  our  large 
cities."  Whether  or  not  this  desponding  view  was  wholly  justified  by 
the  fiicts,  it  is  certain  that  the  inattention  of  good  citizens  to  great  pub- 
lic duties  and  interests,  and  consequent  misrule  and  disorder,  furnished 
ground  for  the  most  serious  apprehensions  lest  anarchy  and  lawlessness 
should  supervene  and  sweep  away  a  government  of  law.  It  is  believed 
that  the  tide  has  turned;  and  that  the  signal  and  repeated  triumphs  of 
law  over  interest,  passion,  and  appetite, — though  backed  by  powerful 
combinations,  supported  by  a  corrupt  press,  and  appealing  to  partisan 
and  national  prejudices, — must  have  a  decisive  influence,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  simultaneous  tokens  of  good,  on  the  safe  working  of  our 
institutions. 

In  two  of  the  measures  of  the  past  year  the  issue  has  been  distinctly 
joined  between  the  friends  and  foes  of  law — the  suppression  oi  the 
Sunday  liquor  traffic  and  of  Sunday  theatricals.  Both  were  mainly  in 
the  hands  of  aliens, — the  former  of  the  Irish  and  the  latter  of  the  Ger- 
mans. Both  had  long  enjoyed  complete  immunity  in  their  demoraliz- 
ing business.  Both  were  banded  together  in  "  associations,"  powerful 
in  numbers  and  pecuniary  resources.  Both  claimed  and  have  exercised 
large  political  influence.  Both  had  the  strength  derived  from  class- 
interest,  and  the  sympathy  of  innumerable  adherents  whose  habits  and 
morals  they  had  helped  to  deprave.  Both  depended,  in  different  degrees, 
on  the  traditional  hatred  of  their  several  nationalities  of  a  Sabbath  of 
self-restraint.  Both  avowed  their  determination  to  contest  and  resist 
the  laws  to  the  last,  and  to  render  their  execution  impracticable  by  the 
very  frequency  and  boldness  of  their  violation  of  them. 

We  have  recorded  in  previous  pages  the  result  of  this  protracted 
contest.  In  every  instance,  whether  in  civil  or  criminal  trials,  before 
courts  or  juries,  on  questions  of  law  or  fact,  the  side  of  law  and  morals 


15 

has  triumphed ;  notorious  offenders  are  punished,  and  the  hosts  of  the 
invaders  of  the  public  peace  are  discomfited.  There  may  be  still  many- 
secret  violations  of  the  Sunday  liquor  law,  and  some  evasions  of  the 
Sunday  theatre  law ;  but  this  is  true  of  all  laws.  As  a  whole,  no  laws 
are  better  enforced  than  those  so  bitterly  contested ;  and  the  city  reaps 
the  fruits  in  the  marked  diminution  of  drunkenness,  disorder,  and  crime, 
and  in  the  recovered  supremacy  of  law,  extending  through  various  de- 
partments of  criminal  justice. 

One  feature  of  the  ct)ntest  with  the  Sunday  theatres  deserves  sepa- 
rate notice.  It  involved  the  question  whether  emigrants  from  other 
lands  may  forego  obedience  to  our  laws,  aiwi  substitute  for  them  the 
vicious  habits  of  their  native  countries.  This  claim  has  been  boldly 
advocated  in  our  German  and  Sunda}^  journals,  and  was  distinctly  set 
up  as  a  defence  on  more  than  one  of  the  trials  of  these  cases  in  our 
courts.  It  is  a  claim  that  strikes  at  the  root  of  our  institutions  ;  for  if 
the  multiform  customs  and  habits  of  the  nations  governed  by  bayonets 
rather  than-  ballots  are  to  sway  the  lives  of  men  who  pass  quickly  here 
to  the  use  of  ballots  without  bayonets,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  only 
adequate  basis  for  a  free  government, — a  virtuous,  self-governing 
people, — must  be  so  far  lost  to  us.  If  the  emigrants  from  one  country 
may  import  and  establish  one  vice,  repugnant  to  our  laws  and  abhor- 
rent to  our  moral  convictions,  others  must  be  free  to  bring  their  pet 
immoralities.  And  we  have  the  option  of  changing  our  laws  to  accom- 
modate their  depravity — of  bartering  our  liberties  for  their  pleasures — 
or  of  resisting  these  unmannerly  and  ungrateful  invasions,  and  vindicat- 
ing our  laws  and  institutions'  in  their  integrity  and  supremacy.  The 
latter  alternative  has  been  the  deliberate  and  almost  unanimous  choice 
of  the  people  of  this  city,  and  pronounced  by  our  triljunals  with  an 
emphasis  which  can  not  be  mistaken  and  should  not  be  unheeded.  It  is 
due  to  thousands,  if  not  tens  of  thousands,  of  the  law-abiding  Germans 
of  the  city  to  add,  that  they  cheerfully  accept  this  view  of  the  condi- 
tions of  American  citizenship,  and  that  they  rejoice  with  us  in  the  result 
of  the  contest  with  the  lawless  portion  of  their  countrymen  among  us. 

The  nuanimltij  and  strength  of  a  sound  Sabbath  sentiment  has  had 
impressive  illustration  in  the  progress  of  this  reform.  It  would  be 
easy,  doubtless,  to  involve  even  the  christian  churches  and  ministry  in 
disputes  as  to  many  theological  questions  or  matters  of  casuistry  con- 
nected with  the  Sabbath  :  but  on  the  broad  grounds  of  its  divine  ori- 
gin and  claims ;  its  beneficent  physical,  moral  and  spiritual  influence  ; 
its  sacred  observance  ;  its  fundamental  connection  with  social  order, 
public  morality,  religious  improvement,  and  individual  and  national 
prosperity,  there  are  but  slight  diflferences  of  opinion.  Millions  of  men 
in  this  land,  who  make  no  formal  profession  of  religious  belief,  cor- 
dially accept  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  and  of  the  Pulpit  in  this  be- 


16 

half,  as  accordant  with  their  own  experience  or  observation.  The  in- 
structed conscience  always  takes  the  side  of  the  Sabbath.  It  is  this 
great  flict  that  gives  power  to  every  prudent,  manly  effort  for  the  con- 
servation of  the  Lord's  Day  ;  that  furnishes  an  ample  basis  for  all 
needful  legislation  in  support  of  the  civil  Sabbath  ;  that  gives  practical 
energy  to  wise  Sunday  laws  ;  and  that  renders  powerless  the  assaults 
of  the  infidel  Sunday  Press.  It  is  when  ultra  and  untenable  views  are 
thrust  upon  the  public,  in  the  spirit  of  self-righteousness,  that  christian 
citizens  recoil  and  stand  aloof  from  a  healthful  reform.  We  have  stu- 
diously avoided  such  a  tone  of  discussion,  and  thus  are  enabled  to  re- 
joice in  the  support  of  the  great  body  of  right-minded  citizens. 

The  Committee  have  deemed  it  inexpedient,  while  dealing  with  ques- 
tions more  immediately  affeciing  the  protection  of  the  civil  Sabbath, 
to  invoke  the  direct  aid  of  the  Pulpit,  or  of  distinctively  christian 
agencies.  In  procuring  the  enactment .  and  enforcement  of  laws  to 
secure  the  public  peace  and  order,  it  seemed  wise  to  rely  on  the  moral 
principle  and  sound  sense  so  largely  existing  in  the  community,  and 
finding  such  a  ready  expression  through  the  respectable  press  of  the 
city  :  holding  in  reserve  for  other  and  more  meet  issues,  that  ever  re- 
liable strength  of  religious  principle  embodied  in  our  church  organiza- 
tions. It  has  not  been  the  wont  of  the  Committee  to  foreshadow  their 
policy,  or  to  commit  their  action  in  advance.  Much,  very  rriuch,  re- 
mains to  be  done  to  consummate  the  reforms  already  effected,  and  to 
secure  all  that  is  feasible  within  the  range  of  the  civil  Sabbath, — enough 
to  test  the  manly  christian  patriotism  of  the  friends  of  morals  and 
religion.  And  no  guards  for  the  Sabbath  as  a  civil  institution  can  be 
adequate  or  permanent  that  have  not  their  ultimate  basis  in  the  intel. 
ligent  convictions  of  the  christian  churches  and  ministers  that  the  Lord's 
Day  is  a  holy  day,  the  sacred  observance  of  which  is  a  solemn  and 
imperative  duty. 


NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER, 
E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D., 
NATHAN  BISHOP, 
WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH, 
ROBERT  CARTER, 
WARREN  CARTER, 
THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS, 
E.  L.  FANCHER, 
FRED.  G.  FOSTER, 
DAVID  HOADLEY, 


HORACE  HOLDEN, 
JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 
GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 
WM.  A.  SMITH, 
WILLIAM  TRÜSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 
F.  S.  WINSTON, 
0.  E.  WOOD, 


JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recording  Secretary. 
BUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Correspondmg  Secretary. 
J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Presideut  of  Manhattau  Bank,)  Treasurer. 


APPENDIX. 


THE   SABBATH-MEETING  AT   IRVING   HALL. 

The  friends  of  the  Sabbath  assembled  in  numbers  greater  than  the 
capacity  of  Irving  Hall,  on  the  evening  of  Feb.  17,  1861.  Norman 
White,  Esq.,  presided,  supported  on  the  platform  by  the  members 
of  the  Committee,  and  by  Messrs.  Peter  Cooper,  Hugh  Maxwell,  C.  R. 
Robert,  A.  R.  Wetmore,  Shephard  Knapp,  and  a  large  body  of  the 
clerical,  legal,  and  mercantile  gentlemen  of  the  city.  After  prayer  by 
the  Rev,  Dr.  Lathrop,  of  the  Baptist  Tabernacle  church,  and  the  sing- 
ing of  the  hymn,  "Welcome,  sweet  day  of  rest,"  Mr.  Norman  White, 
chairman  of  the  Sabbath  Committee,  said  : — 

The  friends  of  the  Sabbath  have  been  invited  to  meet  the  Committee  and 
hear  a  report  of  their  proceedings  for  the  past  year.  The  efforts  to  shut  up 
the  theatres  and  close  the  liquor  shops  have  been  attended  with  most  encour- 
aging success.  We  cannot  overrate  the  demoralizing  tendency  of  these 
places — the  one  alluring  young  men  into  scenes  most  destructive  of  every 
moral  sensibility  ;  the  other  tempting  the  poor  man  to  spend  his  hard-earned 
pittance  in  drunkenness  and  shame,  rather  than  to  provide  bread  for  a  suffering 
family.  *  The  Committee  feel  great  encouragement  to  go  on  with  their  work. 
"When  they  began,  many  of  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath  had  no  confidence  that 
any  effort  to  suppress  Sabbath  desecration  would  be  successful.  The  results 
of  the  efforts  which  have  been  made  have  wrought  a  great  change  in  the 
public  mind ;  doubt  and  despair  have  given  place  to  confidence  and  hope. 
There  is  a  large  class  of  our  foreign  population  who  conform  to  our  cus- 
toms and  laws  as  they  better  understand  the  subject.  But  we  regret  to 
say  that  there  is  still  another  class,  numbered  by  thousands,  who  are  wilfully 
determined  to  defy  all  law  and  utterly  disregard  the  rights  of  the  Sabbath- 
loving  citizens.  With  this  class  our  work  is  but  just  begun.  Until  the  time 
shall  come  when  our  property  and  our  lives  will  be  safe  without  the  protec- 
tion of  locks  and  bolts ;  until  v/e  shall  be  able  to  disband  our  police,  shut  up 
our  criminal  courts,  and  throw  open  the  doors  of  our  prisons;  until  man  shall 
be  so  changed  that  every  command  in  the  Decalogue  shall  be  regarded — 
then,  and  not  till  then,  can  we  cease  in  our  efforts  to  arrest  the  aggressions 
which  wiU  be  made  upon  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  Christian  Sabbath. 


18 

Friends  of  the  Sabbath  !  under  Providence,  the  work  is  in  your  hands.  .  Most 
grateliilly  would  -r-o  acknowledge  the  blessing  of  God,  which  has  attended 
our  labors.  Except  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but  in 
vain. 

The  Rev.  E.  S.  Cook,  Secretary  of  the  Committee,  then  presented  a 
statement  of  the  fJicts  of  the  Sabbath  reform  for  the  past  year,  as  sub- 
stantially  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  document. 

THE  HON.  JAMES  W.  BEEKMAK'S  ADDRESS. 

Mr.  Bkekman  said  : 

Mr.  Chairman  : — The  days  of  the  forcible  propagation  of  truth  have 
passed  away.  Error  still  seeks  to  govern  men  by  other  methods  than  self- 
control.  Believing  that  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  one  of  the  surest 
promoters  of  social  happiness  and  of  political  prosperity,  it  has  been  deemed 
wise  to  bring  again  before  the  public  mind  an  old  but  ever  interesting  topic. 
The  argument  from  scripture  I  leave  to  others.  Let  us  examine  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Sabbath  by  the  light  of  history. 

Beginning  with  the  Reformation,  those  nations  which  have  kept  holy-time 
on  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  have  been  and  are  the  leaders,  the  strong, 
the  prosperous,  because  they  have  learned  self-denial,  self-control,  conscien- 
tiousness, and  endurance.  Those,  on  the  contrary,  who  have  made  the  Sun- 
day a  festival  and  day  of  pleasure,  have  usually  been  inferior  and  dependent. 

The  strange  power  of  the  sacred  people  of  Israel,  as  the  money-lenders  of 
the  world,  who  preeminently  have  been  Sabbath-keepers,  is  mightier  than 
the  sword  of  conquering  hosts.  And  so  it  will  remain  until  the  fulness  of 
time.  Palestine  shall  be  purchased,  and  the  scattered  exiles,  by  the  develop- 
ment of  commercial  wealth,  shall  build  again  the  city  of  David.  Other 
nations  have  been  born,  and  ruled,  and  decayed,  as  Assyrian,  and  Grecian, 
and  Persian,  and  Boman,  have  run  the  course  of  empire,  but  the  eternal 
race  of  Jewish  wanderers  exists  yet,  as  distinct  as  nationality  as  when 
crowding  the  teeming  hive  of  Canaan.  Their  existence  is  the  one  perennial 
miracle  of  our  Scripture. 

Far  up,  amid  the  valleys  of  the  Alps,  during  the  long  darkness  of  tho 
middle  ages,  in  like  manner,  was  the  fire  of  truth  kept  unquenched  by  tho 
Waldenses.  They  too,  like  the  Jews,  honored  with  peculiar  strictness  the 
Sabbath  day.  In  one  of  their  writings  (an  exposition  of  their  command- 
ments) they  enjoin  those  that  will  keep  and  observe  the  Sabbath  of  Chris- 
tians to  be  careful  of  four  things :  first,  to  cease  from  all  earthly  and  worldly 
labors  ;  second,  not  to  sin  ;  third,  not  to  be  idle  in  regard  to  good  works  ; 
fourth,  to  do  those  things  which  are  for  the  soul.  At  lengtli,  and  in  our 
days,  we  have  seen  these  Vaudois  churches  spreading  over  Piedmont,  and 
religious  liberty  advancing  southward  upon  all  Italy,  leaving  the  Word  of 
God  in  countless  copies  everywhere  on  her  road.  In  a  cold  and  humid 
clime,  just  where  the  many  outlets  of  the  Rhine  make  their  difficult  way 
through  sandy  levels  into  the  Northern  ocean,  a  hardy  race,  long  defied,  for 
liberty  and  conscience'  sake,  fearful  odds.  They  built  themselves  cities  upon 
piles, — as  it  were,  on  the  tops  of  trees ;  their  fleets  swept  the  ocean.    They 


19 

made  good  tLeir  defence  and  their  independence.  These  Netherlanders 
loved  the  Sabbath,  and  only  when  French  infidelity  under  the  mask  of 
liberty  had  overrnn  the  country  and  forced  upon  Holland  the  decades,  did 
the  glory  of  our  Fatherland  depart. 

The  monk  of  "Worms,  seizing  upen  the  popular  indignation  at  the  sale  of 
indulgences,  proclaimed  everywhere  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith, 
and  established  the  Eeformation.  But  Luther  retained  some  of  his  convent- 
ual education.  He  failed  to  enforce  the  obligation  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
therefore  he  left  a  crippled  church,  which  has  stood  still  upon  the  continent 
of  Europe — nay,  gone  back  from  its  original  vigor,  as  in  France  and  Bohe- 
mia. The  stern  iconoclasts  of  Scotland  saw  in  their  Bible  the  clear  beauty 
of  the  sacred  day,  and  established  its  honor  throughout  all  her  borders.  And 
what  is  Scotland  and  what  are  Scotchmen  now  ?  Clyde-built  steamers  plow 
the  seas  of  every  nation,  and  penetrate  the  rivers  of  the  most  distant  Indies. 
Livingstone,  the  Christian  minister,  has  forced  her  sullen  secrets  from  Africa. 
Mackenzie  and  Frazer  have  left  their  names  upon  the  map  of  the  arctic 
rivers.  Scotch  missionaries  have  preached  the  Gospel  in  every  land.  Scot- 
land gave  us  John  Knox,  and  all  the  noble  army  of  martyrs  of  the  Cove- 
nant, and  James  "Watt,  and  "Walter  Scott,  and  the  Napiers,  and  Macaulay, 
and  Henry  Lord  Brougham,  and  how  many  others  ? 

Merle  d'Aubigne,  the  historian  of  the  Eeformation,  in  a  recent  book  enti- 
tled "  Germany,  England,  and  Scotland,"  says  :  "  If  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  notwithstanding  their  many  elements  of  disorder  and  dissolution,  are 
not  only  still  in  existence,  but  increasing  more  and  more  in  power  and  im- 
portance, it  is  because  they  are  the  sons  of  the  Puritans.  Order  and  obe- 
dience, morality  and  power,  are  all  in  Britain  connected  with  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath.  The  severity  of  England  as  to  the  Lord's  Day,  and  other 
institutions,  is  an  imperative  condition  of  the  greatness  and  power  of  her 
people."  Such  is  the  testimony  of  a  continental  Christian,  whose  ideas  on 
this  point  are  not  at  all  English. 

In  Mexico,  and  Chili,  and  A'enezuela,  and  all  those  South  American  repub- 
lics v,-hose  revolutions  fill  a  paragraph  of  our  newspapers  as  regularly  as  the 
news  of  a  freshet  or  a  thunderstorm,  the  Sabbath  is  not  regarded  as  sacred. 
The  individual  man,  freed  from  the  restraint  of  conscience  and  self-denial 
which  Anglo-Saxons  learn  at  Sunday-school,  is  impatient  of  control,  and,  in 
the  aggregate  as  a  nation,  rebels  rather  than  votes,  and  decides  by  a  pro- 
clamation, backed  by  an  armed  force,  what  we  determine  by  law. 

Let  us  look  at  the  effect  of  the  Sabbath  upon,  health.  Statesmen  and 
lawyers  who  have  worked  on  Sunday,  like  Lord  Londonderry  and  Romilly, 
break  down  in  body  and  mind.  Insanity  and  suicide  are  the  frequent  penal- 
ties. Eest  and  sleep  arc  necessities  of  all  animal  being.  When  Eousseau 
marked  on  Saturday  the  height  of  a  bean  vine  against  a  wall,  and  found  on 
Monday  that  it  had  grown,  he  inferred  that  Sabbath  rest  was  not  a  law  of 
nature ;  nor  is  it  of  the  vegetable  world.  The  interest  of  horse  owners  who 
work  their  cattle  seven  days  in  the  week,  compels  them  to  have  for  each 
vehicle  seven  horses,  that  each  horse  may  rest  every  seventh  day  in  turn. 

The  statistics  of  insanity  have  been  quoted  against  our  cause.  In  Sab- 
Lath-keepiug  lands  there  are  the  most  lunatics.  In  heathen  countries  the 
fewest.    In  England  and  "Wales,  one  of  every  three  hundred  is  of  unsound 


20 

mind.  In  Massachnsetts  one  of  every  three  hundred  and  two,  and  in  one 
county,  every  one  hundred  and  sixtieth  person  is  returned  as  imbecile.  In 
China  there  are  hardly  any  lunatics ;  opinm  is  not  as  dangerous  as  rum. 
Among  the  negroes  madness  is  unknown.  Eighteen  per  cent,  of  our  Anglo- 
Saxon  insanity  is  directly  referred  to  intemperance,  and  Dr.  Geislain  be- 
lieves the  grand  cause  of  the  malady  to  be  the  united  action  of  drink  and 
study.  Slavery  does  not  disturb  the  mind  of  the  negro,  but  the  gold  frets 
away  the  heart  of  the  restless  Caucasian.  Insanity  is  a  bodily  disease.  The 
mind  cannot  be  sick  any  more  than  it  can  die.  Malaria,  stimulants,  want 
of  sleep,  the  infatuated  thirst  for  gain,  and  worst  of  all,  the  untimely  urgency 
of  childish  school  study,  make  our  people  mad.  The  men  of  European  civil- 
ization and  of  North  American  civilization  are,  as  it  were,  in  a  state  of 
continual  intoxication, — intoxication  of  emotions,  of  personal  dignity ;  in- 
toxication arising  from  constantly  renewed  impressions,  to  say  nothing  of 
political  agitation.  "Without  the  Sabbath  it  would  be  far  worse,  and  that 
this  is  true  a  reference  to  the  French  reign  of  terror  is  enough  to  prove. 
Tlien  reason,  having  left  the  minds  of  men,  took  the  form  of  a  courtesan, 
and  was  worshipped  as  an  incarnation  of  folly  and  fickleness.  In  the  reign 
of  terror  there  was  no  Sunday.  Europe  and  America  have  produced  the 
steam  engine  and  the  telegraph,  the  printing-press,  the  railway,  the  sewing 
machine,  and  the  reaper.  The  names  given  to  immortal  fame  fill  the  bio- 
graphical dictionaries  and  encyclopedias.  The  fervid  agitation  of  restless 
workers,  like  the  labor  of  bees,  brings  forth  nations  as  the  bees  swarm ; 
and  we  have  seen  in  our  time  a  prophecy  almost  literally  fulfilled,  in  that 
California  was  born  in  a  day  ;  and  a  people,  overrun  with  the  outcasts  of 
every  clime,  adopted  the  Christian  Sabbath,  and  crystallized  into  an  orderly 
and  well-governed  community. 

The  Christian  education  of  woman  has  given  to  England,  Florence  Night- 
ingale, and  to  America,  Dorothy  Dix — both  missionaries  of  kindness  to  the 
forlorn,  and  both  names  which  posterity  shall  not  willingly  let  die.  Again, 
v/e  are  told  that  Sabbath-keepers  are  weeping  and  dismal,  refusing  that 
Christian  liberty  with  which  Christ  has  made  us  free.  William  Cowper 
pined  in  helpless  melancholy  in  the  unwholesome  malaria  of  ague-smitten 
Olncy,  and  shall  wo  be  told  that  Sabbath-keeping  and  religion  brought  no 
consolation  to  him?  The  wonderful  author  of  the  "Testimony  of  the 
Rocks,"  broke  down  under  remorseless  work,  by  night  and  day,  such  as 
would  have  killed  a  hunter.  Hugh  Miller  fell  a  victim  to  disease  which 
would  have  culminated  long  before  but  for  the  .«oothing  relief  of  the  Sab-^ 
bath.  Both  these  good  men  were  sick  because  they  disregarded  the  laws 
of  human  health  and  life.  The  religion  they  loved  consoled  them  living, 
and  redeemed  them  dead ;  but  health  is  a  duty  as  well  as  piety ;  for  are 
not  our  bodies  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost? 

The  Sabbath  is  a  blessiug,  because  it  makes  men  intelligent  by  giving  time 
to  think,  and  topics  to  discuss,  quite  removed  from  the  ordinary  routine  of 
their  lives.  It  makes  a  man  conscientious,  self-denying,  humble.  It  teaches 
him  to  check  the  sensual  and  lower,  and  to  cherisli  the  higher  tendencies  of 
his  nature.  The  Sabbath  brings  families  together,  and  gives  to  the  toiling 
father  one  day  in  seven  to  rule  his  little  state,  which  is  the  foundation  of  all 
government.     There  honesty  is  inculcated,  and  vice  condemned ;   dangers 


21 

pointed  out,  and  encouragement  given  to  the  faint-hearted.  On  the  Sabbath 
God  is  worshipped  because  it  is  the  set  time  to  do  so.  Labor  stops  and 
comes  refreshed  to  the  Monday's  task.  "  A  well-spent  Sabbath,"  says  Dr. 
Reid,  "  by  upholding  and  difiusing  religion,  becomes  a  powerful  barrier 
against  social  convulsions.  Hence  it  is  that  the  enemies  of  peace  and  order 
are  profuners  of  the  Sabbath.  Their  unhallowed  discussions,  their  public 
meetings  and  their  private  cabals,  are  all  held  on  this  holy  day,  and  true  to 
their  vocation,  this  section  of  the  community  are  always  found  to  be  the 
most  clamorous  for  legalizing  every  species  of  Sabbath  profanation. 

Is  not  this  true  also  in  our  country?  We  feel  it  to  be  so,  and  therefore 
we  strive,  not  to  prosecute  and  pursue  with  all  the  pains  and  penalties  of 
law,  those  who  think  all  days  alike,  and  would  make  a  festival  and  frolic  of 
what  we  deem  sacred ;  but  we  mean  to  spread  our  opinions  before  our  neigh- 
bors with  what  arguments  we  may.  We  want  to  give  information — we 
want  discussion.  "We  believe  with  Dr.  Humphrey  that  but  for  the  moral 
power  of  Sabbatical  institutions,  neither  property  nor  reputation  would  be 
safe,  and  that  the  American  character  and  government  will  go  down  into 
the  same  grave  that  entombs  the  Sabbath.  We  have  seen  and  felt  the 
beauty  of  this  holiness  of  the  Day  of  days,  and  we  earnestly  seek  to  make 
others  partakers  of  our  pleasure.  "  He  keeps  the  Lord's  Day  best,  who 
keeps  it  with  the  most  religion  and  the  most  charity." 

THE  REV.  MR.  GANSE'S  ADDRESS. 
The  Rev.  H.  D.  Ganse,  Pastor  of  the  Twenty-third  Street  R.  D. 
church,  made  the  following  admirable  address : — 

This  community  is  now  deciding  a  most  momentous  question.  That  ques- 
tion is  not  this — whether  the  religious  observance  of  the  Sabbath  can  be 
forced  by  law  upon  a  reluctant  portion  of  our  population.  There  is  no  part 
of  this  conmiunity  that  would  resist  such  an  attack  upon  our  religious  liberty 
more  promptly  and  resolutely  than  that  which  is  represented  here  to-night. 
But  the  question  is  this:  Can  a  civil  rest-day  be  sustained  by  law  in  the  city 
of  New  York  ?  Into  the  idea  of  such  a  civil  rest-day  three  elements  seem  to 
enter.  It  must  relieve  the  laborer  from  his  week  of  toil.  It  must  secure  to 
those  who  are  religiously  inclined  the  opportunity  to  worship  without  disturb- 
ance ;  and  it  must  so  far  close  the  most  active  fountains  of  popular  vice  as  to 
save  the  day  of  rest  from  being  perverted  into  a  social  curse.  Can  such  a  day 
be  sustained  by  law  in  this  city?  The  question  would  be  full  of  interest, 
whatever  community  it  might  regard.  But  there  are  few  points  where  it 
could  approach  solution  under  circumstances  as  interesting  as  those  which 
are  to  decide  it  here. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  a  question  for  the  people.  No  despotism  or  oli- 
garchy is  to  make  the  law  for  us,  and  then  to  enforce  it.  We  make  it  and 
sustain  it,  or  we  reject  it  ourselves.  And  the  verdict  we  give  shall  go  forth 
to  the  world  as  the  decision  of  an  intelligent  and  free  people.  That  fact  shall 
give  weight  to  it.  We  may  notice,  too,  that  the  discussion  of  this  great  issue 
is  not  complicated  by  the  influence  or  even  the  presence  of  an  established 
church.  No  bench  of  bishops  casts  a  vote  upon  it.  No  Christian  minister 
cau  affect  its  decision,  except  by  arguments  which  any  man  is  free  to  accept 


22 

or  to  3esp!se.  Besides,  whatever  verdict  this  commtinity  shall  render  in  this 
cause,  shall  be  a  verdict  upon  full  evidence.  All  the  testimony  of  which  the 
case  admits  is  before  us.  There  is  no  sliade  of  opinion  or  feeling  in  regard  to 
the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  that  is  not  represented  and  freely  discussed  in 
this  city.  Among  the  friends  of  the  day  you  may  count  those  who  exalt  the 
Christian  Lord's  day  almost  to  the  ceremonial  sanctity  of  the  Jewish  Sab- 
hath  ;  and  those  who,  with  no  idea  of  its  divine  authority,  yet  maintain  a  day 
of  rest  on  the  lowest  principles  of  material  economy.  Between  these  ex- 
tremes stand  a  host  of  men — Christians,  philanthropists,  patriots — who  would 
debate  with  each  other  interminably  upon  the  ground  of  Sabbath  obligation, 
but  who  agree  in  one  thing,  that  the  Obligation  is  complete.  On  the  other 
side,  you  have  the  embodiment  of  every  principle  that  sets  itself  against  this 
day.  Passion,  avarice,  false  education,  a  degraded  Christianity,  infidelity, 
atheism,  have  gathered  their  army  of  Sabbath-breakci's  and  Sabbath-haters 
in  this  city  of  New  York.  God  has  suffered  these  scores  of  creeds  condemn- 
ing this  day  to  be  formed  in  their  different  schools,  and  then  has  made  this 
city  of  ours  the  forum  in  which  a  decisive  discussion  is  to  be  had.  Here  they 
meet,  the  offspring  of  the  Puritans  and  the  Hollanders,  the  sons  of  French  and 
German  Protestants,  the  men  that  first  saw  Sabbath-light  in  the  glens  of  Scot- 
land, and  along  the  green  lanes  of  England ;  here  they  are  to  do  battle  for  the 
right.  And  arrayed  against  them  are  the  representatives  of  every  demoral- 
ized nationality  of  Europe.  The  godless  portion  of  our  own  population  strike 
hands  with  them,  and  perverts  from  Christianity  take  the  lead  of  them.  The 
lists  have  been  opened  ;  the  combatants  have  taken  their  places ;  the  trum- 
pet sounds.  Now  let  the  charge  come.  I  do  not  regret  this  posture  of  af- 
fairs. Let  truth  and  error  be  fairly  marshalled,  ilay  God  defend  the  right, 
and  let  the  struggle  decide  it ! 

"What  shall  the  issue  be  ?  There  are  some  hopeful  signs. 
Pirst,  it  is  God's  cause.  "We  are  not  aiming  to  bind  men's  consciences  to 
a  religious  Sabbath.  But  the  rest-day  is  his.  And  if  we  can  witlihold  men 
from  gross  indulgences  on  the  day,  we  may  hope  to  lead  them  to  worship.  If 
you  take  the  turbid  mountain  torrent,  and  smite  it  into  seven  streams,  every 
one  of  them  will  flow  turbid  still.  And  the  tide  of  worldly  feeling  that  flows 
for  six  days,  will  flow  no  purer  on  the  seventh,  if  you  only  divert  it  into  the 
channels  of  lust.  But  gather  up  the  mountains  of  law  about  it ;  let  it  rest 
and  grow  clear,  like  a  sweet  Swiss  lake  among  its  hills,  and  the  stream  will 
still  need  to  flow,  but  it  will  flow  in  praise.  It  would  be  no  wonder  if  the 
observance  even  of  the  civil  rest-day  in  this  city  should  be  followed  with  the 
opening  of  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  with  showers  of  grace.  God  is  on 
our  side. 

And  men  are  on  our  side.  "\Ye  have  \hG  double  advantage  of  all  the  orig- 
inal Sabbath  feeling  of  this  community,  and  of  our  most  successful  experi- 
ment. What  good  citizen  can  close  his  eyes  to  the  most  striking  and  cheer- 
ing statistics  of  the  diminution  of  crime,  that  were  just  now  read  by  our 
secretary  ?  They  tell  me  that  men  are  at  Albany  now,  with  their  thousands  of 
signatures,  for  the  repeal  of  our  Sabbath  laws.  Let  onr  legislators  remember 
that  we  can  command  signatures  too,  wlien  the  emergency  shall  demand 
them.  And  there  miglit  be  among  them  a  class  not  represented  on  that  list 
of  thouäauds — the  signatures  of  wives  wlio  are  forgetting  to  weep,  of  chil- 


23 

dren  who  are  looking  v/ithout  shame  on  the  faces  of  their  fathers,  of  em- 
ployers rejoicing  to  find  steady  workmen  in  those  who  eighteen  months  ago 
carried  the  debauchery  of  the  Sabbath  half  through  the  week. 

The  strength  of  the  community  is  on  our  side.  There  is  only  this  fear- 
that  good  men  will  trust  the  good  cause  to  care  for  itself.  The  wicked  know 
that  God  is  against  them,  and  so  they  combine.  The  friends  of  a  good  cause 
are  too  ready  to  assume  its  success  because  God  U  for  it.  God  fights  for  the 
good  when  they  fight  for  themselves. 

But  there  is  one  element  of  encouragement  very  prominent  in  the  minds  of 
all  those  who  are  interested  for  this  enterprise.  It  is  the  signal  and  success- 
ful prudence  with  which  it  has  thus  tar  been  conducted.  I  hazard  nothing 
in  saying  that  no  undertaking  of  equal  moment,  that  has  been  begun  in  this 
city  within  the  memory  even  of  the  old  among  us,  has  so  commanded  the 
hearty  and  unreserved  admiration  of  the  wise  and  good.  God  has  blessed 
you  and  your  helpers,  sir,  with  the  wisdom  that  is  profitable  to  direct.  We 
are  sure,  then,  that  the  cause  is  in  good  hands,  and  so  we  liave  hopes  for  the 
issue. 

Alas  for  us,  if  we  fail  I  "We  are  standing  on  the  water-shed.  The  stream 
of  popular  feeling  which  bursts  out  at  our  feet  Avill  flow  down  this  declivity 
or  down  that.  If  those  whom  we  have  met  and  repulsed  shall  rally  and  re- 
pulse us  in  turn,  they  will  not  reinstate  the  same  evils  which  we  have  suc- 
ceeded in  diminishing.  Flushed  with  their  success,  confident  in  the  added 
strength  which  shall  have  achieved  it,  they  will  sweep  you  dovv'n  to  the  level 
of  a  Sunday  in  Paris  or  Vienna. 

But  what  if  we  succeed?  A  happy  success  shall  that  be  for  our  congrega- 
tions of  Christian  woi'shippers ;  a  happy  success  for  those  of  us  who  have 
children  to  rear  in  this  great  metropolis ;  a  happy  success  for  those  who  send 
forth  their  sons  from  the  sacred  calm  of  the  Sabbath  in  their  father's  home  and 
in  the  village  church,  to  this  city  of  temptation  and  vice.  Be  sure,  sir,  that 
warm  hearts  in  many  a  country  home,  while  they  think  of  their  dear  ones 
among  us,  are  thanking  God  for  your  success,  and  entreating  him  to  en- 
large it. 

But  the  results  of  our  victory  shall  not  be  so  limited.  The  battle  that  we 
are  fighting  is  preeminently  a  representative  battle.  This  giant  lias  come 
down  from  Gath,  with  his  spear  like  a  weaver's  beam,  and  he  stands  and  de- 
fies the  Christian  sentiment  and  strength  of  this  city,  and  of  all  this  land.  If 
he  shall  win  the  battle,  our  whole  Israel  shall  have  lost  it,  and  the  Pliilistines 
shall  rule  us.  The  Christian  feeling  of  tliis  community  is  the  David  that  ac- 
cepts the  challenge,  and  the  host  looks  on.  If  we  win,  then  the  cause  of  the 
Sabbath  has  received  strength  and  interest  through  all  this  land.  And 
already,  indeed,  are  our  chief  cities  imitating,  with  most  encouraging  results, 
the  eflbrts  which  we  are  making  in  New  York.  But  you  cannot  limit  the 
results  of  your  future  successes  to  this  land.  All  Christendom  looks  on,  for 
all  Christendom  has  its  representatives  in  this  conflict.  And  there  is  not, 
perhaps,  another  city  on  our  globe  in  which  a  sustained  civil  Sabbath  would 
have  such  power  to  aflect  the  old  nations  of  Europe,  as  this  city  of  ours. 
Their  own  cities  are  too  near  each  other,  and  too  much  under  the  influence 
of  national  jealousies,  to  make  the  spectacle  as  impressive  in  one  of  tliem  as 
it  would  be  at  this  distance  across  an  ocean.    Let  us  lift  up  our  broad  canvas, 


24 

and  lay  the  brilliant  colors  upon  it,  and  the  nations  shall  see  it  with  wonder 
aud  admiration.  The  light  of  our  Christian  rest-day  should  stream  across  the 
waters  like  the  warm  radiance  of  a  setting  Sabbath  sun.  The  campaniles  and 
domes  of  regenerated  Italy  should  glow  in  it.  The  quaint  old  spires  of  France 
and  Germany  should  brighten  in  the  ruddy  light ;  and  even  the  ivied  towers 
of  England  should  welcome  the  gilding  western  beams. 

Shall  such  success  crown  our  eflForts?  We  expect  it.  In  this  behalf,  I 
think,  we  now  lead  the  world.  Aud  God  leads  us.  Let  us  be  united,  and 
earnest,  and  trustful,  and  prudent,  and  kind,  aud  so  let  us  triumph. 

THE  REV.  DR.   SPRING'S  LETTER. 
The  venerable  pastor  of  the  Brick  Church,  being  unable  to  attend  the 
meeting,  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  chairman,  which  was  lis- 
tened to  with  profound  interest : — 

Me.  Chairman  : — It  is  but  an  act  of  courtesy  to  indicate  to  the  gentlemen 
constituting  the  Sabbath  Committee,  that  we  are  not  indifferent  spectators  to 
what  we  have  witnessed,  and  what  they  have  done.  If  I  mistake  not,  there 
is  in  the  hearts  of  all  the  friends  of  good  order  in  this  community  a  deep  and 
cordial  aud  joyous  sympathy  in  this  noble  enterprise.  It  is  a  rough  path  the 
Committee  have  travelled  over ;  and  we  wish  them  to  understand  that  we 
not  only  look  upon  them  with  the  eye  of  brethren,  but  that  there  is  a  tone  of 
feeling  in  our  minds  that  moves  along  with  them,  and  that  would  fain  cheer 
and  animate  them  in  their  arduous  work.  "VVe  all  have  but  one  set  of  emo- 
tions toward  the  sacrcdness,  the  loveliness,  the  high-born  and  heaven-im- 
parted influences  of  the  Lord's  day.  Not  more  inseparable  is  this  day  of  holy 
rest  from  the  healthful  exercise  of  the  Christian  graces,  than  it  is  insepara- 
ble from  that  protecting  morality  which  is  the  surest  guardian  of  social 
and  national  virtue,    ri^-^^-^ 

If  we  cannot  banish  vice  from  the  midst  of  us,  there  is  sometliing  gained 
when  we  can  strip  it  of  its  gorgeous  hues,  and  drive  it  into  obscurity. 
Daniel  Webster  once  said,  "Some  persons  lose  their  abhorrence  of  crime  in 
their  admiration  of  its  magnificent  and  pleasing  exhibitions."  It  is  not 
always  true  that 

"  Vice  is  a  monster  of  so  frightful  mien, 
That  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen." 

It  is  usually  conceived  of  in  hideous  colors ;  and  the  more  need  is  there 
that  we  take  good  heed  not  to  be  deceived  by  it  when  it  comes  in  an  attrac- 
tive form.  Marvellous  to  tell,  it  has  been  reserved  for  the  times  in  whicli  we 
live  to  advocate  the  sin  of  Sabbath-breaking  by  the  plea  of  liberty  of  con- 
science !  as  though  liberty  of  conscience  is  the  liberty  of  bidding  defiance  to 
the  law  of  God !  Thanks  to  the  effective  police  of  our  city  for  detecting  and 
exposing  the  glare  of  these  Sabbath  vices ;  and  thanks  to  an  impartial  and 
upright  court,  that  in  the  day  of  trial  they  gave  no  countenance  to  the  plea 
that  liberty  of  conscience  is  the  liberty  of  "sacrificing  to  devils  and  not  to 
God."  Men  never  violate  the  law  of  God  more  flagrantly  than  when  they  do 
it  from  a  false  principle  of  conscience  ;  and  they  never  do  so  more  impxulently 
than  when  they  profess  honest  and  conscientious  intentions  for  the  mere  pur- 


25 

pose'of  covering  their  vices.  Napoleon  remarks  that  "  There  is  no  class  of 
men  so  difficult  to  he  managed  in  a  state  as  those  who  impose  upon  their  own 
consciences."  If  your  Committee  had  done  no  more  than  tear  away  this 
gossamer  pretext  of  crime,  they  would  deserve  well  of  all  honest  men. 

You  have  often  listened  to  luminous  expositions  of  the  truth  that  "the 
Sabbath  was  made  for  man,  and  not  man  for  the  Sabbath."  It  so  wisely 
consults  the  demands  of  his  physical,  intellectual,  social,  moral,  and  immor- 
tal nature,  that  I  have  long  regarded  it  as  among  the  beautiful  proofs  of  the 
divinity  of  the  Scriptures,  and  that  they  were  written  by  Him  who  perfectly 
knew  the  wants  of  this  wayward,  wearied,  and  sin-impoverished  world.  The 
Sabbath  is  its  choicest  inheritance.  For  what  would  the  ministry  of  recon- 
ciliation be,  and  what  the  Bible,  and  what  its  Saviour,  without  its  Sabbaths? 
Shorn  of  its  Sabbaths,  the  din  and  urgency  of  time  would  be  its  ruin.  Ex- 
punge the  Sabbath  from  the  history  of  man,  and  you  take  down  the  symbolic 
ladder  on  which  the  angels  of  God  are  descending  from  heaven  to  earth,  and 
frail,  sinning  man  ascends  from  earth  to  heaven. 

I  know,  Mr.  Chairman,  there  are  obstacles  in  the  work  you  have  under- 
taken to  perform.  I  have  :^lt  them.  I  have  struggled  with  them,  and  found 
"  old  Adam  too  hard  for  young  Melanchthon."  In  the  early  days  of  my  min- 
istry, I  was  discouraged  by  them ;  public  opinion  was  slow  to  sustain  the  lit- 
tle band  who  forty  years  ago  ventured  to  "beard  the  lion  in  his  den."  But, 
sir,  the  path  of  duty  is  a  bright  path,  though  it  climbs  over  the  "  Hill  Dif- 
ficulty." When  a  young  American  officer  was  summoned  to  the  assault  of 
one  of  the  enemy's  frowning  outposts,  he  promptly  replied  to  his  superior, 
'  I  will  try,  sir."  Your  Committee  have  tried  ;  and  they  have  shown  that 
there  is  great  efficacy  in  combined  and  persevering  action — all,  notwithstand- 
ing the  variety  of  their  views  on  matters  of  religious  faith  and  polity,  buck- 
ling on  their  armor,  and  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  their  wise  and 
patient  onset  upon  this  one  strong  entrenchment  of  the  foe.  They  have  been 
steady  to  their  purpose,  and  the  Lord'  God  of  the  Sabbath  has  been  with 
them,  and  is  with  them  still. 

Mr.  Chairman,  he  who  addresses  you  can  say,  with  one  of  other  days,  "I 
have  been  young,  and  now  am  old,  yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  for- 
saken ; "  and  though  winter  scatters  liis  snows  thus  plentifully  on  his  head, 
be  is  thankful  that  time  spares  him  to  utter  these  few  words  of  encourage- 
ment to  the  friends  of  the  Sabbath.  Allow  him  to  say  to  you,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Jehoshaphat  to  the  judges  of  Judah,  "  Deal  courageously,  and  the 
Lord  be  with  the  good ; "  and,  in  the  language  of  the  prophet  to  a  king, 
"  The  Lord  is  with  you,  while  ye  be  with  Him." 


26 


PROFESSOR- mXCHCOCK'S  ADDRESS. 

Tlie  Rev.  R.  D.  Hitchcock,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  Union  Theological 
Seminar}',  made  the  closing  address  as  follows  : 

After  these  addresses  to  •which  we  have  now  listened,  and  such  addresses 
representing  so  ably  the  counting-room,  the  bar,  and  the  pulpit  of  our  city, 
there  remain  to  me  little  time  and  less  material  for  a  speech.  1  cannot, 
however,  deny  myself  the  luxury  of  expressing  my  personal  respect,  and 
begging  tlie  audience  to  permit  me  to  be  their  mouth-piece  in  expressing 
their  respect  for  this  Sabbath  Committee.  Wellington  once  said  that  it 
requires  sometimes  as  much  genius  to  feed  an  army  as  to  lead  it  in  battle. 
This  Committee  have  accomplished  the  rare  achievement  of  providing  for 
their  own  expenses,  by  no  means  inconsiderable,  without  once  appealing  to  the 
general  Christian  public  for  pecuniary  assistance.  For  this  we  owe  them  our 
thanks.  But  still  more  do  we  owe  them  thanks  for  the  singular  Avisdom  of 
their  measures.  They  have  committed  no  mistakes ;  they  have  taken  no 
extreme,  untenable  positions.  This  is  a  great  matter,  thus  to  have  marched 
straight  forward  without  once  beating  a  retreat ;  to  have  managed  an  assault 
which  has  known  no  repulse ;  to  have  dealt  a  heavy  shock  which  has  been 
followed  by  no  recoil. 

The  practical  presupposes  the  ideal.  All  prudent  undertakings,  whether 
of  conservation  or  of  i-eform,  must  proceed  upon  the  basis  of  clearly  con- 
ceived and  sharply  determined  principles.  This  Coraraitlee,  at  whose  call 
"we  are  here  to-night,  have  in  charge  a  great  enterprise  both  of  conservation 
and  of  reform  ;  the  conservation  of  an  institution  very  precious  to  our  fathers, 
and  honored  in  the  legislation  of  every  Christian  commonwealth  from  the 
time  of  Constantine  till  now  ;  the  reform  of  flagrant  abuses  which  threaten 
to  sweep  away  this  institution  alike  from  our  statute  books  and  from  our 
streets.  This  Sabbath  enterprise  is  of  necessity  inspired  and  sustained  by  a 
Sabbath  doctrine  which  it  behooves  us  to  put  distinctly  in  the  foreground. 

What  is  this  Sabbath  doctrine  ?  I  have  not  compared  notes  with  the 
Committee  ;  I  am  not  the  specially  authorized  expounder  of  their  opinions  : 
but  I  think  I  shall  run  no  risk  of  misrepresenting  their  position,  if  .1  say, 
first,  that  the  Sabbath,  for  whose  defence  they  have  pledged  themselves,  is 
not  the  ecclesiastical  Sunday  of  some  of  the  European  scholars  and  commun- 
ions, a  mere  churcli-day,  with  no  higher  sanction  than  attaches  to  such 
festivals  as  Easter,  Epiphany,  or  Christmas.  Nor  is  it  merely  the  Lord's 
Day,  having  no  organic  connection  witli  any  earlier  appointment.  Nor,  again, 
is  it  merely  the  Jewish  Sabbath,  promulgated  for  the  first  time  in  the  Deca- 
logue, and,  by  simi)ly  a  change  in  the  day,  carried  over  into  Christendom.  It 
is,  indeed,  a  cliurch-day,  cherished  by  the  devout  in  every  Christian  generation 
as  "the  queen  of  days."  It  is  also  the  Lord's  Day,  specially  commemora- 
tive of  his  resuri-ection.  And  it  has  connection,  moreover,  witli  the  day 
enjoined  upon  the  Hebrews  in  the  fourth  commandment  of  the  Decalogue. 
But  it  is  also  more  than  each  or  than  all  of  tliese.  It  is  essentially  the 
original  Sabbath  of  the  race,  hallowed  in  the  beginning  when  the  work  of 
creation  was  finished ;  antedating  Judaism,  and  consequently  surviving  it ; 


27 

given  tötnan  as  pian,  and  therefore  binding  upon' him  in  all  ages  'and  cli 
mates,  and  under  all  dispensations.  In  confirmation  of  this  original  appoint- 
ment, VTQ  appeal  to  the  hebdomadal  division  of  time  so  widely  diffused  ;  we 
Appeal  to  the  human  constitution  itself,  Avhich  in  all  its  parts,  physical, 
mental,  and  moral,  is  so  palpably  preconfigured  to  just  this  proportionate 
amount  of  holy  rest. 

The  Sabbath,  as  thus  defined,  holds  most  important,  nay,  even  vital  rela- 
tions to  the  three  great  organisms  which  condition  the  history  of  our  race  ; 
I  mean  the  family,  the  church,  and  the  state.  It  supplies  the  atmosphere, 
without  which  they  cannot  breathe.  Here  are  great  questions  waiting  to  be 
discussed,  into  some  of  which  this  Committee  have  not  yet  entered.  They 
have  not  yet  taken  up  the  Sabbath  as  related  to  the  family.  Doubtless  they 
feel,  as  I  do,  that  the  Sabbath  has  hardly  as  yet  begun  to  be  what  it  might 
be  to  the  househord ;  a  holy  but  joyous  day,  v/hich  no  gentle  child  shall 
dread  in  its  coming  or  speed  in  its  going.  Nor  have  they  discussed  the 
Sabbath  in  its  relation  to  the  church.  Doubtless  they  feel,  as  I  do,  that  the 
church  has  yet  to  learn  how  to  make  the  most  of  its  holy  day ;  by  prayer, 
by  psalm,  by  service  of  whatever  sort,  turning  its  golden  opportunities  to 
the  best  account.  These  branches  and  aspects  of  the  question  we  may  hope 
will  receive  attention  in  due  time.  Thus  far  the  Committee  have  had  enough 
to  do  in  taking  care  of  our  civil  Sabbath — the  Sabbath  as  it  stands  related 
to  the  state. 

We  hear  a  great  deal  of  senseless  declamation  about  the  union  of  church 
and  state.  The  church,  certainly,  desires  no  such  union.  She  remembers 
too  well  the  lessons  of  liistory.  She  knows  that  this  union  is  most  likely  to 
involve,  sooner  or  later,  the  subjection,  not  of  the  state  to  the  church,  but 
of  the  church  to  the  state.  Independence,  even  with  a  sharp  antagonism, 
has  been  proved  to  be  better  than  friendship  and  patronage  when  purchased 
by  dependence.  So  was  it  during  the  first  three  Christian  centuries,  which 
gave  the  church  her  noble  army  of  martyrs.  Fi"om  the  time  of  Constantine, 
for  more  than  seven  hundred  years,  there  was  a  union  of  church  and  state, 
involving  the  supremacy  of  the  state,  worse  for  the  church  than  sword  and 
fiame.  Hildebraud  reversed  all  this,  compelling  the  state  to  bow  to  the 
church  as  "moon  to  sun."  But  this  priestly  triumph  was  short-lived.  The 
Protestant  reformation,  which  owed  so  much  in  its  inception  to  the  favor  of 
temporal  princes,  was  soon  fettered  and  crippled  by  that  favor.  It  was  not 
till  our  ov/n  continent  took  its  place  in  history,  that  the  true,  normal  condi- 
tion of  things  was  realized — independence  without  antagonism.  On  this 
ground  we  plant  our  feet.  Of  the  state  we  ask  nothing  but  to  be  let  alone  as 
Christians,  while  as  citizens  we  receive  that  protection  in  the  enjoyment  of 
our  rights  to  which  all  citizens  are  entitled.  For  our  principles  we  invoke 
only  that  favor  from  the  state  which  the  state  itself  finds  needful  in  order  to  its 
own  security. 

Let  us  be  understood.  It  is  as  good  citizens,  anxious  for  the  weal  of  the  state, 
that  we  are  here  to-night.  We  speak  not  for  the  church,  which  will  take  care 
of  her  own  Sabbath,  but  for  the  state,  which  must  have  a  Sabbath,  or  else  curse 
God,  and  die.  To  the  state  we  say  :  This,  for  you,  is  simply  a  question  of  self- 
preservation.  Will  you  live,  or  will  you  die  ?  If  you  would  live,  you  must  give 
your  citizens  a  stated  weekly  season  of  sober,  sacred  rest.     If  you  would  die,  you 


28 

have  only  to  surrender  the  Sabbath  to  profanation.  Secularize  it  by  permitting 
servile  toil,  or  making  civil  processes  valid,  or  inviting  revelry,  and  your  work 
is  done.  Your  citizens  will  soon  be  subjects,  and  your  subjects  will  soon  be 
slaves. 

Sabbath  legislation,  such  as  this  Committee  favor,  is  sometimes  denounced  in 
the  name  of  civil  freedom  and  democracy.  Much  to  be  pitied  are  the  men  who 
ai-e  imposed  upon  by  such  denunciation.  A  more  humane,  democratic  institu- 
tion than  this  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  as  recognized  in  our  civil  legislation,  does 
not  exist.  In  every  aspect  of  it,  it  is  evidently  made  for  man,  and  for  none  so 
eminently  as  for  the  man  of  poverty  and  toil.  Around  him  especially  does  the 
state  throw  the  arms  of  its  protection.  Labor  Ls  thus  defended  against  the  re- 
morseless exactions  of  capital.  Every  seventh  day,  it  is  declared,  shall  be  a  day 
of  rest.  And  furthermore,  this  day  of  rest,  it  is  decreed,  shall  not  be  made  a  day 
of  special  moral  danger  by  reason  of  greatly  multiplied  solicitations  to  sensual 
indulgence.  The  privilege  of  rest  shall  not  thus  be  poisoned  and  perverted  by 
those  who  offer  the  masses  pleasure,  not  because  they  love  the  masses,  but  be- 
cause they  wish  to  fleece  them  of  their  hard-earned  wages.  They  only  are  the 
real  friends  of  the  people  v*'ho  are  determined  that  this  day  of  rest  shall  be  sur- 
rendered neitlier  to  Mammon  nor  to  Belial. 

But  we  take  still  higher  ground.  Our  nationality,  if  it  be  anything,  is  a  Chris- 
tian nationality.  This  new  theatre  of  history  was  entered  under  the  banner  of 
the  Cross,  with  lofty  strains  of  Christian  cheer.  We  are  not  a  pagan,  nor  a 
Mohammedan,  nor  a  Jewish,  but  a  Christian  people.  And  those  who  cannot 
accept  this  fact,  and  govern  themselves  accordingly,  had  better  leave  us  to  our- 
selves, just  as  we  should  leave  a  pagan,  a  Mohammedan,  or  a  Jewish  country, 
were  its  institutions  offensive  to  us.  Intelligence  and  virtue,  even  the  infidels 
among  us  admit,  are  essential  to  the  perpetuity  of  cur  free  institutions.  But 
intelligence  and  virtue,  we  are  well  persuaded,  are  an  idle  dream  unless  they  rest 
upon  the  solid  basis  of  a  Christian  morality.  The  nation  must  live,  if  it  live  at 
all,  by  faith. 

And  if  there  was  ever  a  time  when  men  should  seriously  reckon  with  them- 
selves, and  with  their  God,  and  their  fathers'  God,  it  is  at  a  time  like  this,  when 
these  stately  pillars  of  the  state  are  trembling  about  us,  and  the  grand  dome 
which  these  pillars  bear  up  is  swaying  to  and  fro  in  the  sky.  These  are  hours 
of  apprehension  and  of  peril,  such  as  we  have  never  known ;  and  nothing  can 
endure  which  is  not  founded  upon  the  solid  rock.  Hence  our  zeal  for  the  Sab- 
bath. We  contend  for  it,  not  merely  as  an  institution  of  the  church,  not  merely 
as  Christians :  we  contend  for  it  as  patriotic  Americans,  who  are  not  willing  that 
our  liberties  shall  perish.  Give  us  holidays^  and  you  will  give  us  presently  a 
military  despotism.  Give  us  this  lioly-day,  and  you  will  keep  us  republican 
freemen. 

The  Benediction  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  John  Cotton  Smith, 
of  the  church  of  the  Ascension,  the  Doxolgy  was  sung,  and  the  throng 
dispersed. 


29 


PRESENTMENT  OF  LIQUOR  DEALERS'  ASSOCIATION 
FOR  CONSPIRACY. 

"New  York,  Frida v,  June  22,  1860. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  would  be  blind  to  the  circumstances  attending  most  of  the 
cases  of  crime  they  have  considered,  did  they  not  trace  their  origin  to  the  indis- 
criminate s.ale  and  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  to  the  prevalent  spirit  of  lawless- 
ness induced  by  classes  and  associations  engaged  in  tlie  liquor  traffic,  or  conspiracy 
to  obstruct  the  enforcement  of  the  statutes  fijr  restraining  it. 

"  It  is  obvious  that  the  efforts  of  judicial  or  executive  authorities  to  punish  crime 
and  to  secure  public  peace  and  order  must  prove  abortive,  so  long  as  the  causes  of 
crime  and  disorder  are  not  only  unchecked,  but  are  fortified  and  stimulated  by 
organizations,  powerful  in  numbers  and  wealth,  actively  employed  in  embarrassing 
the  administration  of  justice  in  all  cases  affecting  the  interests  of  their  members. 
It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  thousands  of  dram-shops  pursue  tlieir  business,  and  have 
done  it  for  years,  in  defiance  of  laws  of  the  State  declared  to  be  constitutional  by 
the  Court  of  Last  Resort,  and  when  every  unlicensed  sale  of  alcoholic  or  othier 
intoxicants  is  pronounced  by  the  law,  as  expounded  by  the  Court  of  Appeals,  to  be 
a  misdemeanor. 

"  Indeed  the  penalties  incurred,  whether  criminal  or  civil,  by  this  traffic,  if  im- 
posed and  collected,  would  pay  the  entire  amount  of  taxes  of  the  city,  enormous 
as  it  is.  That  they  are  not  impossed  or  collected,  and  this  traffic  brouglit  under 
legal  control,  is  due  chiefly  to  the  unscrupulous  meddling  witli  political  and  judi- 
cial affairs  of  "  Liquor  and  Lager  Dealers'  Associations."  Thousands  of  men  thus 
combined,  with  an  enei'getic  Executive  Committee,  adroit  and  well-paid  counsel, 
and  abimdant  resources  for  tempting  and  coercing  public  officials  and  public 
journals,  leave  but  an  indifferent  chance  for  the  protection  of  the  rights  or  morals 
of  a  community  too  busy  to  look  after  public  interests,  and  too  uuwieldiy  to  counter- 
plot tl'.e  mischiefs  of  a  selfish  conspiracy. 

"It  may  be  worthy  of  the  consideration  of  tlie  public  whether  it  is  consistent 
with  either  the  dignity  or  safety  of  the  citj'  longer  to  endure  tb.e  shameful 
paralysis  of  law  and  justice  affecting  the  chief  cause  of  taxation,  pauperism  and 
crime,  and  whether  the  statute  intended  to  protect  the  comojunity  frona  illegal 
conspiracies  of  this  sort  should  not  be  brought  into  requisition. 

"It  is  provided  in  part  4,  chap.  1,  title  6,  section  8,  of  the  Revised  Statutes, 
"  If  two  or  more  persons  shall  conspire  *  *  to  commit  any  act  injurious  to  public 
health,  to  public  morals,  or  to  trade  and  commerce,  or  for  the  perversion  or  obstruc- 
tion of  justice,  or  the  due  administration  of  the  laws,  they  shall  be  guilty  of  a 
misdemeanor."  It  would  seem  that  this  law,  applied  to  the  matter  ht-re  presented, 
and  to  like  conspiracies  for  supporting  illegal  Sifnda}'  performances,  might  restore 
our  machinery  of  government  to  its  normal  condition. 

"  It  is  further  due  to  the  public  to  direct  attention  to  the  demoralization  and 
lawlessness  consequent  upon  the  contempt  of  our  statutes  for  protecting  the  weekly 
day  of  rest  and  worship  from  unseemly  and  immoral  public  exhibitions  by  the 
proprietors  of  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer  Gardens.  Not  only  have  they  defied  tlie 
law,  but  even  the  injunctions  of  Courts  have  been  set  at  nought,  and  a  combined 
purpose  has  been  avowed  and  acted  on  to  override  Jaw  and  auih<.rity,  and  in 
spite  of  all  to  persist  in  practices  offensive  to  the  va^t  majority  of  mir  citizens, 
foreign  to  our  n-ational  usages  and  convictions,  and  destructive  to  public  morals. 

''It  would  appear  to  be  essential  to  the  very  being  of  our  institutions  that  this 
6tate  of  thing  should  be  brought  to  an  end.  VVe  have  no  shield  but  a  government 
of  law.  If  one  class  may  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  all  classes  may.  and 
society  resolves  itself  into  its  original  elements.  At  any  cost,  and  at  all  hazards, 
existing  laws  should  be  wisely  and  impartially  enforced,  and  the  men,  or  classes 
of  men,  who  choose  to  set  them  at  defiance,  declare  themselves  to  be  outlaws,  and 
need  to  be  thus  dealt  with,  without  fear  or  favor. 

'•  HOMER  FRANKLIN,   Foreman. 
"  J,  C.  Kendall,  Clei'k." 


THE     SUNDAY     TIIKATRE      LAW     CONSTITUTIONAL. 

t 

Abstract  of  Judge  HoffmaiCs  Opini'on. 

TJie  People  vs.  Hojim  and  Ilamann. — Tlie  demurrer  involving  the  constitution 
ality  of  the  act  of  18ö0  against  Sunday  theatricals,  was  argued  by  Mr.  Cram  for 
the  people  and  Mr.  Clinton  for  defendants.  The  opinion  of  the  learned  judge 
recites  the  oU'ense  charged  in  the  complaint  and  tlie  provisions  of  tlie  act,  and 
refers  to  his  views  of  the  Divine  authority  of  the  Sabbatic  institution  as  expressed 
in  the  oase  of  Campbell  vs.  The  International  Insurance  Co.  (4  Bosworth's  rep. 
312),  which  he  reaflirm3  in  the  language  of  Bishop '\^^l3on :  "Tlie  dedication  of 
one  day  in  every  seven  to  religious  rest  and  the  worsiiip  of  the  Almighty  God,  is 
of  divine  autliority  and  perpetual  obligation,  as  a  characteristic  of  revealed  religion 
during  all  its  successive  periods;  having  been  enjoined  upon  man  at  the  creation  ; 
recognized  and  confirmed  in  the  most  solemn  manner  in  tlie  Ten  Commandments; 
vindicated  by  our  divine  Lord  from  the  unauthorized  additions  and  impositions  of 
the  Jewish  teachers,  and  transferred  upon  the  abrogation  of  the  ceremonies  of  tlie 
Mosaic  law,  to  the  first  day  of  the  week,  in  commemoration  of  tlie  resurrection 
of  Christ,  and  on  that  account  called  the  Lord's  day."  Though  not  essential  to  the 
present  case,  the  conclusion  thus  expressed  is  not  deemed  irrevaleut  to  it,  and  it 
has  not  been  lightly  formed,  nor  without  attention  to  the  arguments  of  the  emi- 
nent men  who  have  doubted  or  contested  it. 

The  history  of  our  state  legislation  connected  with  the  Lord's  day,  is  of  great 
importance  and  pertinence.  He  cites  "The  conditions  of  the  burgomasters  of 
Amsterdam,"  of  1656;  the  laws  of  the  duke  of  York,  of  1664;  the  charter  of 
liberties,  October,  1683  ;  the  colonial  statute  of  1695,  "  against  the  profanation  of 
Sunday,"  which  was  in  force  at  the  adoption  of  our  state  constitution,  in  1*777, 
and  until  the  passage  of  the  state  statute  of  1788,  which  latter  was  substantially 
that  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  1813  and  1830. 

The  Constitution  of  1777  lacks  the  provision  of  the  subsequent  constitutions  of 
1822  and  1846,  that  "  no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property,  with- 
out due  process  of  law,  and  no  member  of  this  state  shall  be  disfranchised  or 
deprived  of  any  of  the  rights  or  privileges  secured  to  any  citizen  thereof,  unless 
by  the  law  of  the  land  or  the  judgment  of  his  peers."  But  the  Thirty-fifth  article 
declares  the  common  and  statute  law  of  England  and  the  acts  of  the  Colony  in 
1775,  to  be  the  law  of  the  state.  The  great  charter  of  John,  and  that  of  Henry  III. 
confirmed  by  thirty-two  successive  acts,  were  as  clearly  a  part  of  the  law  of 
England  as  the  right  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus. — (Kent's  Comm.,  vol.  II,  p.  26.) 
Soon  after  the  Revolution  (1787)  a  bill  of  rights  was  passed,  with  provisions  nearly 
identical  with  the  charters  of  John  and  Henry;  and  the  revisers  of  1822  adopted 
a  similar  bill.  The  clause  in  section  3  of  the  constitution  of  18-16,  as  to  the  freedom 
of  religious  profession,  was  in  the  constitution  of  1777  and  1822  ;  the  only  change 
being  the  additional  clause  respecting  the  competency  of  witnesses. 

This  historical  investigation  establishes,  as  I  think,  beyond  doubt,  that  there  has 
never  been  a  period  in  our  legislative  history,  since  1777  at  least,  when  every 
provision  as  to  the  enjoyment  and  right  to  property,  and  as  to  freedom  in  religious 
profession  now  found  in  the  constitution  of  1846,  was  not  as  fully  part  of  the  fund- 
amental law  of  this  state  as  i^is  now.  (The  exception  as  to  witnesses  does  not 
affect  the  present  question.)  And  thus,  if  the  legislature  cannot  prohibit,  restrict 
and  modify  the  I'iglits  of  using  property  on  Sunday,  under  the  present  constitution, 
then  the  statute  of  1788,  and  its  renewal  in  1813  and  1830,  have  been  equally 
illegal  and  void.  The  selling  of  merchandise  has  been  forbidden  in  those  statutes. 
The  whole  coarse  of  legislation  has  then  been  against  the  organic  law,  and  the 
decisions  of  courts  of  justice  liave  been  violations  of  tlic  citizen's  rights.  I  cannot 
see  a  substantial  distinction  between  the  interdiction  of  the  employment  of  cattle 
in  ordinary  agricultural  labor,  or  the  ordinary  sale  of  merchandise,  and  prohibi- 
tion of  the  use  of  premises  for  certain  specified  purposes  on  Sunda3-.  Each 
instance  rest  upon  the  principle  of  good  order  and  public  morality  and  peace.  In 
each  tiie  full  enjoj-ment  of  property  is  restrained.  In  the  old  statute?,  no  distinc- 
tion is  found  between  cases  of  property  possessed  at  the  passing  of  tlie  statute  and 
that  subsequently  acquired  ;  nor  is  there  a  trace  of  it  in  the  authorities. 

The  case  of  Hurchammer  vs.  The  People  (3  Kernan,  378)  is  relied  upon  by 


31 

tlie  defendants.  But  nil  tlie  leading  opinions  notice  and  enforce  the  distinction 
between  legislative  acts  -which  operate  the  entire  destruction  of  property,  or 
any  right  to  use  it,  and  restrictions,  or  qualifications  upon  tlie  time,  place,  or 
mode  of  enjoyment.  Only  when  provisions  pass  the  boundary  of  regulation 
and  police,  and  work  fche  essential  loss  or  destruction  of  the  property,  are  they 
tinconstitutional. 

This  view  answers  every  nrgnment  deduced  from  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  as  to  tlie  inviolability  of  contracts.  If  the  act  can  be  sustained  as  a 
regulation,  founded  in  public  policy  of  tiie  use  of  property  existing  or  future,  no 
contract  is  illegally  affected.  The  same  consideration  furnishes  a  reply  to  the 
suggestion  tliat  the  act  is  void  in  being  confined  to  the  city  of  New  York.  If  the 
evil  was  local,  in  the  judgment  of  the  legislature,  tiie  remedy  may  be  so. 

Several  authorities  are  cited  and  commented  on,  as  follows:  9  Cal.  Reports, 
p.  502  ;  2  Ken.  Reports,  3  ;  34  Penns.  Report,  398  ;  same,  86,  etc. 

These  views  and  authorities,  adds  the  learned  judge,  lead  me  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  statute  in  question  is  valid,  and  a  lawful  exercise  of  legislative  authority. 
Judgment  for  the  plaintiff  on  the  demurrer,  with  costs,  -witli  leave  to  answer 
in  twenty  days. 

[The  following  "  Constitution  "  was  presented  in  evidence  on  the  trial 
of  Lindenmuller.] 

"constitution    ok    tiie    religious    sect    called    the   GERMAN    8HAKEE    ASSOCIATION. 

"The  undersigned  hereby  form  a  Society  for  the  purpose  of  passing  the  day  of 
the  week  called  Sunday  in  a  manner  worthy  of  cultivated  and  thinking  men  ;  to 
rest  from  the  labor  of  the  preceding  days,  and  to  gather  strength  for  the  following. 
They  meet  together  to  keep  Sunday  religiously  with  their  families;  to  listen  to 
useful  and  serious  addresses  of  single  persons,  and  of  several  speaking  together;  to 
represent  occurrences  from  actual  life,  founded  on  morality;  to  counsel  good;  to 
avoid  evil,  and  with  our  might  and  strength  keep  every  one  from  evil ;  so  to  act 
towards  our  fellow  men  as  we  wish  to  be  treated  by  them,  according  to  the  words 
in  the  Bible,  "  Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.'  We  believe  in  the  immortality  of 
the  soul,  implanted  in  us  by  the  Goddess  "  Nature."  We  believe  in  the  Sacred 
Beings,  who,  by  the  strength  of  their  souls,  have  guided  thousands  to  the  paths 
of  mortality  and  nature.  We  believe  that  the  Goddess,  Nature,  Morality  and 
Humanity,  form  a  Triuitj'  before  which  we  bow  down.  We  battle  and  work  for 
this,  our  religion,  by  moral  representations,  by  delineations  of  the  light  and  shady 
sides  of  human  life.  We  strive  to  elevate  men  to  become  noble  citizens  of  the 
Universe.    We  declare  these,  our  Sunday  acts,  to  be  our  religious  mode  of  worship." 


1.  The  Sabbath  as  it  was,  and  as  it  is.     8  pp. 

2.  Eailroads  and  the  Sabbath.     16  pp. 

3.  Kews-crying  and  the  Sabbath.     16  pp. 

4.  The  Sabbath  in  Europe.     16  pp. 

5.  The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.     24  pp. 

6.  A  Year  for  the  Sabbath.     16  pp. 

7.  Memorial  Memoranda.     40  pp. 

8.  German  Document  on  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic.     24  pp. 

9.  German  Sabbath  Meeting  at  Cooper  Listitute. 

10.  The  Broderic  Sunday  Pageant.     16  pp. 

11.  Sunday  Theatres,  Sacred  Concerts,  and  Beer-Gardens.  24  pp. 

12.  Progress  of  the  Sabbath  Keform.     32  pp. 

13.  The  Press  of  New  York  on  Sunday  Laws.     24  pp. 

14.  Our  Central  Park.    8  pp. 

15.  The  Civil  Sabbath  Eestored. 

Orders  may  be   addressed  to  "  The   Sabbath   Committee," 
No.  21  Bible  House,  New  York. 


3  w  e  i  t  e 

Seiitfr^c  ^erfamniluug 


Sur 


gehalten 
am  ©onntag  ?l6ent,  ten  10.  «Bi.H-j  1561. 


59c It  bcii  9iebcn  Don  §crrii  ®,  ©^tonB,  ^>aftor  Dr.  ©tofjlniöun. 

Scfrctiir  ^.  8»  (?oot,  ^^rof.  9?aufd)ciibiiftf),  ^^rof.  Dr,  ^itdjcorf 

uiit)  ben  33cft^Iiif|cii  bcr  3>erfantmlung. 


.riciau? gegeben   toon    ber    9^elü  =  3)or!er    Sabbat]^  =  6ümmittPC, 

(Doc.  No.  16.) 


©ebrudt  hti  ,0-  Subiüig,  39  6entre  =  Stra^e. 
186  1. 


L  SJcrnnloffung  ber  25erfammlung» 

Stm  17.  StprU  1860  erlief  bie  gefe^geknbe  SSetfamtnlung  beg  Staate  Sf^em^Dotl 
ein  ©efe|;,  ,,äur  Grt)a[tung  ber  cffentlidjen  9iuf)e  unb  Orbnung  am  erften  SBocfjentag 
ober  Scntitag."  S^icg  @efe^  »erfcietet  öffentliche  tl^eatralifd^e  2>ürfte(Iungen,  foiüie 
aüe  äl}nUctien  ^Vergnügungen  am  Sonntag,  unter  Slnbrotjung  einer  «Strafe  i>on  500 
S^oUarx^,  unb  emiädjtigt  bie  ,,®efeUfc^aft  jur  33efferung  jugenblid^er  33erbred^er/'  in 
Uebertretungi-fdüen  Älage  ju  fvtf)ren  unb  jene  ©umrne  einäU3iet)en.  2(u^erbem  tritt 
in  fclc(?cn  ^-dllen  ncc^  bie  Strafe  ein,  meldte  ba§  ©efe^  für  alle  berartigen  $erge|)un= 
gen  (misdemeanors)  ücrfc^reibt.  Sind)  üerliert  ^eber,  ber  am  Sonntag  tl)eatra= 
lifc^e  Ssorftellungen  üeranftaltet,  bie  ©rlaubni^  (license),  fold^e  an  Sßerftagen  ju 
»eranftalten. 

3ur  3eitf  alio  bie|  @efe|  erfd)ien,  fanben  in  ber  Stabt  9'Ieh)=2)orf  am  Sonntag 
Slbcnb  an  atoanjig  üerfcfiiebenen  Orten  tljeatralifcfje  33orftellungen  ftatt.  2Reiften§ 
»erftedtcn  fie  if)ren  ungefefelicf^en  ß^arafter  baburd?,  ta^  fie  auf  ben  Stnfcfjlagjetteln 
aliS  "Sacred  Concerts,"  ober  "Concerts  of  Sacred  Music,"  angefünbigt  hjur 
ben.  2lber  h»df)renb  biefer  ?iame  geiftlidje  ober  religiöfe  SRufifftüd'e  erirarten  lie^ 
befagte  fd)on  ber  ttteitere  Snl)alt  be;?  2(nfd)lag3ettel»,  ta^  Suftfpiele  unb  ^offen,  2öal= 
jer  unb  93allette  gegeben  rt»iirben.  S^aju  famen  nod^  ©lüd)?fpiele  aller  2trt,  nebft 
fonftigen  raufc^enben  93eluftigungen.  ^n  ben  beutfd^en  5ll)eatem  marb  ben  gan^ 
gen  Sonntag  SRad)mittag  unb  2lbenb  93ier  in  Strömen  an  bie,  oft  toeit  über  1000 
jidl)lenben,  Sefud)er  auc-gefd^cntt.  Qint  ncä)  Xiid  fd^limmere  ©eftalt  gemann  bie 
Sad}e  in  ben  am  Sonntag  offenftefjenben  amerif anifdjen  3;l^eatem  bie,  auf  Stn^ 
lafe  ber  beutfd)en  entftanben,  aber  balb  fie  an  Unfittlid^teit  unb  3Serborbenl^eit  hjeit 
übertrafen,  ©anje  Sd^aaren  gefallener,  ober  il)rem  ^all  entgegen  eilenber  SJtdbc^en 
bemirtljeten  I^ier  bie  jugenblic^en  35erbred}er,  bie  fic^  in  SJienge  jufammenfanben,  unb 
eg  mürben  S)inge  getrieben,  bie  in  ben  nerberbteften  großen  Stdbten  ber  alten  SBelt 
an  feinem  5lage  ber  2Bcc^e  gebulbet  hjerben  njürben. 

Sie  Urfad)e,  mepalb  fold}er  Unfug  fo  lange  fortgef)en  fonnte,  lag  gro^ent^eiB 
ill  bem  Umftanbe,  ba^  fo  etioa;?  {)ier  ju  Sanbe  big  bal^in  tJ^eilg  gar  nic^t,  t^eife  roe- 
nigftenjo  am  Sonntag  nid)t  Dorgefommen  n»ar.  2)ie  alte  gute  Sitte  f^attt  c§  fem 
gehalten:  fomit  toat  feine  25eranlaffung  ba,  ©efe|e  bagegen  ju  erlaffen.  S)ie= 
jenigen  @efe^e,  bie  etma  gegen  9>ergel)ungen  biefer  2(rt  geridjtet  »raren,  ttiaren  tf)eilg 
nid)t  bcftimmt  genug,  tl)eil2!  festen  fie  ju  geringe  Strafen  feft. 

2U»  nun  im  grüljja^r  1860  ber  (!ntlrurf  beg  oben  ertüdl)nten  ©efe^eg  ber  gefe^; 
gebenben  SSerfammlung  üorlag,  boten  bie  Siertlieater^Sefil^er  juerft  2(lleg  auf,  um 
ben  ßrla^  beg  ©efe^eg  jU  Ijinbern.     2}amac^  aber,  alg  eg  benncc^  burdjgegangen 

3 


roat,  bef(i)Iof|en  fie,  bent  ©e[e$e  Slto^  ju  bieten,  fofte  el,  hjal  e»  njclle.  Sie  Sonn* 
tag§=8(i)au[piele  bauerten  alfo  fort,  unb  smar  in  Segteitimg  ber  giftigl'ten  SlusfäUc 
gegen  ba»  6I)ri[tentfjum  unb  bie  Sanbelgefel^e.  3)ie  Sericfctcrftatter  (reporters) 
bcvjcnigen  3eitungen,  bie  am  ent)d}ieben[ten  gegen  Sonntagö=23elultigungcn  auftvaj 
ten,  mürben  in  effigie  (ira  93ilbe)  getjängt,  bie  ^^oli3ei  gefd}mät)t  unb  bie  frcd^ften 
gotteiSiäfterlidjen  Dteben  Don  ber  S3ü^ne  f)erab  gefül;rt.  Giner  ber  üorne^mftcn  beut: 
fd^en  3:f;eater:Se|'i|er  l^atte  bie  Stirn,  feine  Sdjaufpiele  alä  ben  ,,©ottesbicn[t  ber 
beutfcf)en  S(i)ä!er=®emeinbe"  anjufunbigen,  tttetdje  an  bie  ,,@öttin  3tatur"  glaube 
unb  burcb  bilblio^e  2)arftellung  ber  £i(^t=  unb  £d}attcnfeiten  bei  ntenfcblidjen  Scbcnl 
fittlic^e  .^ebung  erjiele.  Sine  fo  eienbe  ^offe  biefe  93cl;auptung  auc^  mar,  bie  ,,Con= 
ftitution  ber  ^eligions[e!te,  bie  fic^  beutfd)c  £d)cifer:@cmcinbe  nennt,"  föurbe  bei 
bem  gegen  if)n  antjängig  gemad^ten  ^rojej?  allen  Grnftcl  bem  @erid}t  all  gcnügenbe 
9ie(^tfertigung  wn  Sänjen,  ^Balletten,  Suftfpielen  unb  2;rin!gelagen  ber  milbeften 
3lrt  »orgetegt.* 

:3nbef5,  bie  ,,beut[d)e  Sd)äEer;©emeinbe"  marb  nicbt  anerfannt.  6»  bauerte 
inax  üolle  üierunbämanjig  Stunben,  ebe  bie  ©efc^mcrnen  fid)  einigten.  3^ann  aber 
lautete  iljr  Spru(^  auf  33ermerfung  biefel  ni(j^tigen  S^ormanbel  unb  auf  ^Berurttjeis 
lung  beffen,  ber  fid)  bal)inter  ju  bergen  gemeint  btitte. 

3icö)  fi^neller  brad^  bie  ^olisei  ben  STrc^  ber  anbern  SonntagltbeaterjQiefitser. 
Ginige  nerloren  iljre  Sicenj,  anbere  mürben  megen  3?erad}tung  be»  ©eridit!i>l)ofel  ju 
einer  betrdd^tlictien  ©elbftrafe  »erurtbeilt ;  mebrmali  imirbcn  bie  Sd^aufpieler  fcgar 
mitten  in  i^rem  Spiel,  mit  ibrem  3;beater=,$lüftüm  angetban,  terbaftet.  Sa  f»crging 
ibnen  enblid)  bie  Suft,  ein  fo  gefdbrlidjel  Spiel  nocb  länger  fcrtjufet^en.  Giegcn= 
mdrtig  fpielt  am  Sonntag  fein  Sbeater  mebr;  mand}e,  bie  friiber  am  Sonntag  fpicU 
ten,  finb  ganjlid)  eingegangen,  meil  fie  an  biefcnt  2:age  ihre  .r^auptcinnabme  bat= 
ten.  2Bie  grofs  biefelbe  mar,  ergibt  fid)  fcbon  ani  ber  Eingabe  cinel  biefcr  Sbeater: 
Sefiljer,  ba^  fein  SSerluft  in  fedjl  SJlonaten  $4000  betrage.  2tn  einigen  Drten  ift 
allcrbingi  am  Sonntag  nod)  2JlufiE,  nebft  3(ulfd}cnfcn  r>on  33ier  unb  fonftigen  Sctu-- 
ftigungen.  2)od)  ift  ju  beffen,  ba^,  mie  bal  3luefd}cnten  beraufd}enber  ©ctränte  in 
ben  meiften  S(^enflofalen  am  Sonntag  aufgebort  bat,  ihm  mit  ber  3eit  aucb  an  ben 
ebengenannten  Orten  ein  Gnbe  gemad)t  merbcn  mirb. 

Sie  t»or  balb  ^mei  ^labi^en  burd^gefefite  Sd)lieJ5ung  ber  Sd)en!lDlalc,  fomie  bie  erft 
in  jüngerer  3eit  unternommene  Sd)lief;ung  ber  2bcatcr  am  Sonntag  bat  in  jeber 
.^infid)t  eine  bi3d)ft  erfreuliebe  25eränberung  jum  ikffern  berbeigeffibrt.  ^n  ben  adbt= 
jebn  SDlonaten  Dom  1.  Stuguft  1859  (an  meldbem  Jage  ber  Gbcf  ber  ^olisei,  .f)err 
$ilä.bur^,  Sefebl  gab,  bie  Sd)enfen  ju  fd)lief)en,)  bil  3um  1.  gebruar  1861,  mürben 
an  allen  Sienftagen  jufammen  15,503  Sßerbaftungen  tiorgcnommen,  an  allen  Scnn^ 
tagen  jufammcn  nur  10,483.  Siefer  Unterfd}ieb  ift  um  fo  beaditungimortber,  all 
früber  gerabe  bal  umgefebrte  SSerbältni^  ftattfanb,  inbem  am  Sonntag  um  ein  Srits 
tbeil  mebr  5>erbaftungen  ftattfanben  all  am  Sienftag.  2Bal  biefe  cntfd)eiben5 
ben  B^blen  nur  anbeuten,  mirb  ^fber  nod}  beutlidjer  er!ennen,  ber  bie  je^üge 

*  Z>\c  "Shakers"  Tin*  cine  »on  ken  „Jrcunkcn"  ctcr  Qurtfmi  alvifijangcnt  fllcIlflionJvartci,  tic  in 
©^eloriijtcit  unb  (Sütcrgcmcinfdfaft  ein  jurü<f^cjogenc«  ficbcn  ffil^t.  3l)vcn  9i\imcn  l)'üien  Tic  t'U<oM, 
las  fic  bei  i^ren  ilevfammlungeu  ^äufig  in  eine  fdjaufelntc  uiil  IjiU'fciitc  Jiorvcrboucgunsj  gevatfteit, 
tie  Tidf  manchmal  bi«  gu  ©pvingen  nnt  3'anjcn  fleigcvt,  uiit  nad)  iftvev  aUcinung  ter  5liiatvmf  tbciU 
be«  (Srjlttcrn«  »er  tern  3crne  Octtcg,  t(;elU  t>ti  3ubct«  über  tic  grlcfung  burc^  ebriflum  fein  frit. 


8onntagsftil(e  itn[ver  Stabt  mit  bcm  früt)CTen  2.ixm  unb  ©etiimmcl  am  Sonntag 
oergleidjt. 

9iid)t  nur  alle  (!l}ri|ten,  fcnbern  alle  ben  ^rie^e'i  un^  ^ie  Orbnung  liebenben  Süvj 
get  betrad^tcn  mit  SRed^t  biefe  3>eränberung  al»  eine  f)5d^ft  h30^(tf)uenbe  unb  erfreu = 
Ii(f)e.  ©anj  anberiS  aber  fefjen  bie  g'l^eunbe  raufc^enber  S^ergniigungen  am  Sonntag, 
unb  adermeift  biejenigen,  bie  [ic^  baburd}  bereicbertcn,  bie  Sac^e  an.  SBie  fd)on  er= 
ääljU,  fu(i)ten  [ie  anfang»  ju  bemirfen,  ba^  ba^c  ©efe§  nom  17.  2(pri(  gar  nid}t  erlaf: 
fen  lüerbe;  barnod)  magten  fie  e§  ifjm  Ztol^  ju  bieten,  cber  e§  ju  umgef)en.  2tla 
and)  biefer  lefetere  S5erfud^  feb(fd)Iug,  boten  fte  2niei3  auf  unb  festen  red)t  eigentlich 
Grbe  unb  .f)c(Ic  in  53crt)egung,  um  bie  SBieberabfd^affung  bes  ©efel^e»  t»on  Seiten  ber 
Segi^Iatur  suirege  3U  bringen,  ©rofje  Summen  mürben  5U  biefcm  3wede  nermenbet, 
Sittfd}riften  mit  fo  üielen  Unterfd}riften,  aU  fic^  irgenb  auftreiben  liefsen,  an  bie  2e- 
gielatur  gefanbt,  baju  3)taffcn=2>erfammlungen  teranftaltet,  um  Grflärungen  gegen 
bail  fc  öert^a^te  Sonntagc^gefe^  3u  eriaffen. 

3^ie  bcbeutenbfte  biefer  2Raffen=2Berfammhmgen  murbe  am  Sonntag  ben  3.  Max^ 
im  beutfd^en  ,,Stabt:3:l()eater"  geljalten.  Sie  erüärte,  iaä  Scnntagegefel^  fei  ,,ein 
bunfter  ^^eden  in  unfrcr  aufgef (arten  ^dt,  ein  ^emmfc^ul^  bc§  Jortfd^rittel,  ein 
Ueberbleibfel  au§  bi'iftern  fanatifcben  Seiten^  ei"  Siueftjuc^iS  intoleranten  engherzigen 
^^uritanismufi,  meld^er  auf  efttig  »on  ben  Stättern  unfers  Statut»  ausgemerzt  lüerben 
foüte,  2C."  Sie  behauptete,  ba^  ,,befagte§  @efe§  bie  öffentlid^e  SO^oral  nid}t  allein 
nid)t  förbere,  fonbern  et)er  geneigt  fei,  ber  .^eud^elei  unb  Unfittlicbteit  3?orfd}ub  gu 
leiften."  diner  ber  ticrnef)mften  5iebner  meinte,  in  ber  2tgitation  gegen  bas  Scnn= 
tagc-gefe^  fef)e  man  ben  beutfd}en  Seift  gegenüber  bem  ©eift  eine»  intoleranten 
^faffentbumgi.  Üurj,  e^  hjurben  33ef)auptungen  unb  Grflärungen  in  SOIenge  aufge- 
ftedt,  bie  eine  ©egenerflärung  be^  beffergefinnten  ^\)e\li  ber  beutfd^en  33eDcI 
ferung  bringenb  erf)eif($ten.""' 

*  Sflad^fte^cnbciäi  ünb  t>ic  öoUfiänii  igen  Sefdjlüffc  jener  9hitt:Sabbatb:93cvfamm.- 
lung  vt>m  3.  iUiäq.  üJacbbcm  ein  langcö  ,,3n  Slnbetrad^t  bev  uiiücräii§evlid)cn  Sflcd)te 
eiiieö  freien  33o(fcö,  auf  gefe^tidiem  Sßcgc  9lb(;&tfe  für  jcbcn  ungcfc^tid;cn  3lft  ju  fu: 
c^en,"  K. — »or^ergcgangcn  ifi,  toirii  »pn  t>cr  SSerfamnilung 

58cfc6  lo  ffen,  tap  rcir  befagteJ  ®efc^  für  u  nc  o  ii  flitutlo  n  et  l  cvfUvcn,  »ie  ea  bereits  kurcö 
tii-3  i^clf  antever  Staaten  gcfd)e[;en  ifl,  intern  ti  bie  Sleli^icngfrei^cit  befc^ncitet  unb  unl  bie  Surrc= 
matic  einer  SJeHgion  auftröngt,  rvtläie  ben  erften  Stag  ber  SBcrfje  geheiligt  Vriffen  »iU  utife  ftd^  2lnberS= 
glÄubtge  untevcrbnet,  luä^renb  turc^  bie  (Scnftituticn  jeber  Sctte  gleiche  9{ec6te  gefiebert  fmb; 

a?efd)  (offen,  ba»  wir  e^  auc^  in  fo  fern  für  unccnflitutionctl  erf(ären,  al6  ei  bie  aUgeinetiie  ®c= 
»erbefrci^cit  beeinträdjtigt,  fomit  bem  (Seifte  ber  (Sonflituticn  gurolterliluft  unb  aU  ein  *)joUjeitefrct 
bie  grcgcn  3unbamenta(grunbfä^c  »erJe^t,  welche  als  @runbtage  unfereS  grcgen  nutionaien  @cfe^ 
budieä  bicnen ; 

5Ü  c  fd)  1  c  f  f  en,  ba§-  wir  befagteS  @efe^  für  eine  Seeinträcbtigiing  unferer  I;eiligfien  JRec^te  l^atten, 
ali  ein  @cfe8,  weiche«  aui  engherzigen  Jlnfic^ten  entfprungen,  nic^t  bie  JBitligung  ber  aJiajorttilt  bc« 
53o(fe?  Ijat,  U'eli^e  baburc^  gejrcungen  reirb,  fic^  unter  baä  Suc^  einer  intoieranteu  ffliincritfit  ju  beu« 

gen; 

S3  cf  16(0  ffen,  bay  tuir  ba?  ®cfeb  für  unvertragticö  mit  bem  gcfunben  SJJenfdien^jerflanbe  Ratten, 
ba  ci,  iras  beute  gcfe^licb,  morgen  für  ungefc^Ud)  unb  übermorgen  «lieber  für  gefebtirfi  ertifirt; 

33  cfd)  (  of  f  cn,  baß  ivir  befagtc«  (Sefets  für  ungerecht  tjalten,  weit  e«  auf  jloften  einiger  aSeniger, 
bie  ficbcn  Tage  jur  ©rbotung  Traten,  buntcrttaufenben  von  fteipigen  Ulrbeitern  bie  Glittet  cntgief)t,  ben 
ciiijigen  Jag  ju  ifiver  grbolung  benüfeen  ju  tonnen  unb  fid;  baburcb  neue  geiftige  Spannfraft  ju  fcd^«» 
tilgiger  barter  9lrbeit  ju  bolen  ;  tepbalb  fei  c?  fd)lieplic6 

iöefd)  loffen,  bap  roir  biermit  ben  ad)tbaren  gefefegeberben  Körper  in  2ttbanl)  acbtung^ooHfl, 
aber  bringen^  angeben,  6I;ap.  501  tcr-®efc^c  von  1860,  betitelt:  Gin  ®cfct^,  ben  öffentlichen  Srieben 


2,  S^rbffnuiif^  ber  ^Bcrfantmlung. 

Sonntag  Stbenb,  ben  10.  2)lärj,  üerfammciten  fxi)  bie  g^reunbc  be§  Sonntag^,  um 
ifjre  Ucbcvseugung  augsiifpred^en,  bajs  nid^t  nur  bic  amerifanifdjen,  fonbern  and)  bie 
beutfrfjen  orbnungsiUebenben  Siirger  bie  beftel^enben  (Bonntagc^gefe^c  nic^t  befla^ 
gen,  fonbern  fid)  ifjrer  freuen  unb  bringenb  iriünfd)en,  fie  aufredbt  erl;a(ten  ju  feben. 
9hir  inenige  2>eranftallungen  »raren  getroffen,  nur  furj  juttor  ir>ar  bie  3?erfamm(ung 
angctünbigt ;  bennod}  fanb  fid}  eine  3)lenfd}enmenge  ein,  irie  man  felbft  in  ber  JBelt= 
ftabt  9leiti=^Dr!  fie  nur  feiten  beifammen  fiet)t.  Ser  "  New-York  Herald"  fd}ä^t 
if)re  3at)l  auf  3  bi§  4000.  @eiüif5  ift,  baf5  bie  loeite  ^alle  be^  6D0per=3nftitut^, 
in  föelc^er  bie  SSerfantmlung  ftattfanb,  an  2000  Sifee  f)at,  unb  ba^  nic^t  nur  biefe 
alle  befe|5t  iraren,  fonbern  üiele  Ijunbert  2Renfd)en  ftanben. 

SBof)I  ju  bead^ten  ift,  ba^  bie  ungef^eure  3Jlet)rbeit  ber  35erfammelten  auä  2)eut: 
fd>en  unb  an§  greunben  ber  füllen  ©onntag^Sfeier  beftanb,  tva§  \\ä)  bei  ber  2lbftim= 
mung  am  Sdilujj  auf'jg  unjtiieibeutigfte  beraueftellte.  S)er  Sorfi^er  ober  ^räfibent, 
fomie  fcimmtlicbe  Ssiceprafibentcn  traren  S)eutfc^c.  2(uf  ber  platform  befanben  fid^ 
bie  meiftcn  beutfc^ien  ^rebiger  JJetD^Tlor!'^,  toon  faft  alien  tird?lid}en  Benennungen, 
ncbft  Dielen  angcfel^enen  bcutfc^en  i^auf;  unb  ©efd^dftsleuten.  (§ä  tvaxen  and)  mcljrc 
d}riftlid}  geftnnte  2lmeri!aner  jugegen,  aber  nid^t  fel)r  »iele,  hjeil  bie  3(bf)altung  ber 
S>erl)anblungen  in  einer  il)nen  uncerftänblic^en  ©pradje  bie  meiften  äurüdl)ielt. 

9iad}bem  bie  it>o^)lbefet5ten  6änger($öre  ber  lutl)£rifd}en  ©emeinbc  in  ber  SBalfer^ 
£traf5e  unb  ber  reformirtcn  ©emeinbe  in  ber  ^§ouftcn  =  Strafte  ju  2lnfang  einige 
l)errlicbe  biblifd^e  ©cfangftiide  aufg.efiiM  l^atten,  fprad»  Rafter  Sufd^e ,  ^45rcbiger 
an  ber  beutfd}=reformirtcn  6emeinbe  in  ber  Suffclf;£traf5e,  bie  ß'rcffnungymorte. 
2^ann  erfc^oll  in  grofser  ilraft  unb  '\suue,  aiiS  bcm  SiRunbe  ber  ganjen  5>erfammlung 
2utl}er'^  ^ampf=  unb  SicgeÄlieb  ,,C5in'  fefte  93urg  ift  unfer  ®ott!"  ^aftor  Soft, 
^rcbiger  an  ber  9}letl)obiften=0emeinbe  in  ber  jireiten  Strafic,  l)ielt  je^t  bai  (Fin^ 
gange^gebet,  Jüorauf  ber  2Sorfi|er,  .^err  ©uftat»  6c^»t» ab,  folgenbe  2lnrebe  f)icU. 


3.  S^cgriifung  unb  ^cridjt  bc^  3.^orfi$cr^» 

?!JJanc^e  «ntcr  cud),  mciiic  i5>^ci'"i'e,  fiabcn  wdjl  vox  ftcbcnjcf)ii  ^Kouatcu  einer  SSers 
fammlung  in  Ciefcm  <Baai  beigewof)!^,  nub  cviuncrn  fic^  nod),  ivic  cinbrincjlic^  unö  tnimalö 
cine  Sact)c  an«  .^erj  gelegt  »urbc,  bie  jcbem  guten  (5l)viftcu,  ja  jcbcm  guten  iBüvgcr  tf;cucv 
fein  muf , — bic  ^«kx  bcö  ©onntagö.  5lurf}  fieutc  bringt  unö  biefc  dicier  liu'cbcr  jufanimcn, 
wnb  inbcni  id)  end)  im  Üuimcn  ber  33evauftaltcr  bicfct  93ci|"animlung  X)crjlid)  uiidfcmmen 
f)ciJ5e,  freue  id)  mid),  ang  cuvcm  ja^trcid)en  (Svfdjeincn  fd)lic§cn  ju  biirfcn,  ba^  bic  XijciU 
na()me  fjicfiir  bei  unfcrcr  bcutfrf^en  93cüölterung  nid)t  cvlrfd)cn  ift. 

3d)  kite  unfcre  aSerfjanblungcn  bamit  «in,  bap  id;  cud)  5ücrid)t  über  baiSjcnigc  abflatte, 

unb  tie  Ortmung  am  erftcn  JTagc  tcr  SBoc^c,  gcvi?ö()n(id6  Sonntag  genannt,  ju  cv^aftcn;  fowlc  @cft(on 
21,  S(mv.  569;  ®cct.  21  «on  S^ap.  828  tcr  Ocfe^c  «en  1857  nnc  Sect.  42  tcr  mtlj.  259  tev  fflofe^e 
«on  1860,  tic  ficß  auf  ten  iievfauf  »on  Siquov  am  crfien  Sage  tcv  ai?od?c,  gcwöfjnlicö  genannt  Sonn» 
tag.  tcjie^cn,  weldjc  ©cff^e  unb  5;&eilc  «on  Ciicfe^en  al*  nn«evtri5glid)  mit  unfein  JKcdjtcn  betrachtet 
Werten— im  Saufe  tiefer  Si(}ung  ju  njiterrufen  uiit  baji  »«ir  unfere  aSertrctev  in  befagttr  ©cft^gcbung 
l^ievmlt  auffortcrn,  allen  Grnfteä  einen  folrfien  aSiterruf  ju  betreiben. 


tea«  in  ben  uerflfciTcncn  ficbcnjefin  SOionatcn  in  bcr  <Sad}C  üorgcfa((cn  ti"i,  nnb  cud)  if)vcn 
gcgnuuävtigcn  ©tanb  flat  ju  niadjcn  fudje,  wovaiiö  ii)t  bann  ben  3u>ccf  nnferev3ufammens 
tunft  erfe^cn  werbet. 

3n  ben  legten  fünfjc^n  Sauren  tear  cine  toefentlidje  SSeränbcvung  in  bee  bürgeriidicn 
gcici-  be«  (Sonntng(J  in  unfcrcr  ©tabt  Borgcgangen.  S)tc  ge»ol)ntc  Stiile,  bie  big  baijin 
tccnigcc  bnrd)  bie  alten  ®efc^e,  al^  bnrd)  bie  feft  im  amerifanifdjen  93o(fc  wuvjeliibe  Sitte, 
aufrecht  crfjalten  njoiben  war,  ntad)te  mef)c  unb  mc()c  einem  Uumcnben  treiben  ^la^. 
(Sin  grofet  Zi)<:'d  bev  <£tabt  unirtie  ti)iiU  »on  ben  ©efdjaften  bev  2Bc^e,  tijcilö  \jcn  ge« 
räufdjBoüen  53chiftigungen  eingenommen,  bie  93cvbred)en  am  (Sonntag  nal)men  in  bcbenf= 
lidjcm  aJia^e  jn,  nnc  bet  ganjc  (5()acaeter  beö  Xaqi  bro^tc  ein  anbetet  ju  werben. 

5DIand)e  5ßetfud)e  waren  beretti5  gcmodjt,  bem  93erfaU  ber  Sitte  (Sin^att  ju  t^mi, 
waren  abet  gänjlid;  gcfc^eitett,  unb  üiele  j^veunbc  beö  Sonntag^  gaben  iijtc  @ad)C  für 
»erioten.  3)a  trat  im  3af)r  1857  cine  9lnjaf}l  amcrifanifc^er  üöiirger,  au6[d^(ie§lid)  Saicn, 
JU  einem  SSetcin  pfammen,  ber  unter  bem  ^flamen  ber  9JcW:2)orfer  Sabbatf):6ommittcc 
eö  ^lä)  jur  Slufgabc  mad)te,  bie  burgertidje  Scier  beg  !Eageg  bnrd)  jcbeö  gefe|,tid}e  a)Ut= 
id  wiebcr  [jcrjuftcKen  unb  ju  förbern.  Sie  jtcKten  babei  ben  ©runbfa^  auf,  ba^  bie 
rcligiöfe  ^eicr  nidjt  in  i^ren  5ßcrcid)  ge(;ijre,  fonbern  bem  ©cwiffen  beg  (Sinjetnen  ju 
uberlajjcn  fei. 

5)er  er|k  SScrfud)  i^rer  !£f)ätigfett  war  gegen  ben  Strapen^SSetfauf  unb  bag  SlnSrufen 
ber  3eitungen  geric^tet^  weldjcg  offne  >&ülfe  ber  ®efe|gebung  abgcfd}aft  würbe,  ^icburd) 
crniutbigt,  wanbte  bie  Sommiltee  if;re  ^Semii^ungen  gegen  bie  ftnd)tbarfte  Duede  beg 
Ucbelg^  ben  93erfanf  gcifiigcr  ©ctranfe  am  Sonntag.  2)iefer  war  bnrd)  bie  Scgiglatur 
unfercg  Staatg  in  bem  fcgeuanntcn  Liquor  Law  furj  juDcr  »erboten  Werben;  bie  ^Joltjei 
war  jcbod)  ju  fc^wad)  unb  ^attc  nid)t  ben  3ßi((cn,  bag  ®cfe^  augjufit^ren ;  eg  biieb  ein 
tobter  93ud)ftabe.  @rft  alg  bie  ^oligei  im  Sommer  1859  in  bie  ^änbc  ber  Police  Com- 
missioners überging  unb  ein  tüchtiger  Superintenbcnt  ang  Stuber  fam,  fing  eg  an,  (Srnji 
bamit  jn  werben. 

53alb  ;^eigte  fi^  jcbod)  ein  anbereg  Uebet,  bag  ben  S^ag  ber  Sdufic  in  einen  S^ag  ber 
flö-rcnbcn  2lugge(affent)cit  ju  Berfefjrcn  anfing — ic^  meine  bie  93icrgartcn:J'f)cater  mit  >§aä 
javbfpieicn  unb  fdjlimmercn  3ugabcn,  bie  id)  f)iet  nidjt  nennen  will.  9lnc^  (jiegcgen  wutbc 
im  9lpril  tj.  3.  enblid)  »on  ber  Scgiglatur  ein  firengeg  ®cfe^  crtaJTen,  unb  baburd)  ^olijci 
unb  ®crid)te  in  ben  Stant)  gefegt,  mit  ^ladjbrucf  gegen  bie  Störcr  ber  i?ffentlid)cn  ötu^e 
einjufd}rciten.  3u  iljrer  (Sl^rc  fei  eg  gefagt,  baf  fic  bieg  gctban  tiabcn.  3n  jebem  bet 
jal}lveic^cn  ^rojcffc,  bie  anbäugig  gemad)t  würben,  i)l  ein  Urtfjeil  ju  ©unften  ber  ftillen 
Sonntaggfeier  erfolgt,  unb  wer  fid)  nod)  nid^t  in  fonfiiger  äßeifc  »on  bem  bcffer  geworbenen 
Suftanb  überjeugt  I)at,  ber  üergleid)e  nur  bie  ie^ige3al)t  ber  aSer^aftnngen  am  Sonntag 
mit  bencn  in  früherer  3cit. 

SSie  aber  ju  erwarten  war,  finb  bie  geinbc  beg  ftillen  Sonntagg  nid)t  gefcnncn,  ftd^  in 
ben  je^igcn  3uftaub  ju  fügen.  (Sin  mäd)tiger  33erein,  bem  eg  nid)t  an  (SJclb  unb  (Sinflug 
fef)lt,  bie  bcfanntc  Liquor  Dealers'  Association,  arbeitet  längfi  an  einer  Slbfc^affung  jcneg 
crften  (Scfe^eg,  unb  bie  5'()eatevfreunbe  lajfen  eg  an  Slntlrengungen  gegen  bag  jweitc  nid^t 
festen.  Sie  :^aben  eine  jafilrcid)  untevfdjricbenc  ^petition  bei  bet  Segiglatut  eingercid)t, 
worin  um  9tbfd)affung  jener  ®efe^e  gebeten  wirb,  unb  bicfe  fiat  i^ncn  bie  (Sf)vc  angetf)an, 
bie  Sad)e  an  cine  Scmmittce  ju  oerweifen,  wcld)e  in  Äurjem  barüber  jn  bcrid)ten  i}at. 
3)ie  (5tage  wirb  fomit  in  wenigen  S;agen  oor  bie  gefe^gebcnbe  a^erfammlung  nnfereg 
Staatg  fommen:  follen  bie  ®efe|e,  wcld^e  ung  einen  Rillen  Sonntag  fid)ern,  beliehen 
bleiben  ober  nid)t?  foil  bie  ^abfud^t  einet  üet()ältni^md^ig  f feinen  (Slaffc  oon  Seuten, 
unb  einige  taufenb  bentfc^e  Stimmen  bei  bet  nädjften  ffiaf)t,  mcfjr  gcften  afg  bag  mate= 
riefle  unb  geiftige  aBof)l  ber  gan;5en  Stabt,  afg  bte  ererbte  Sitte  ber  ungef)cuern  5)Jcf)rjaf)( 
unfcrcr  ameriEanifd)en  äUitbürger,  unb,  id)  f)ofe  fagen  ju  bürfcn,  alg  bie  Stimme  uon 
5'aufenben  bcutfd)er  Sanbgfeute,  benen  biefc  Sitte,  wenn  ntd)t  ron  früfier  Äinb^cit  an  be= 
fannt,  bed)  burd)  ciefjäf)rige  (Srfaf)rung  if)rcg  Segeng  in  Bfeifd)  unb  53fut  übergegangen  iß? 
9tuf  ung,  meine  tf)encru  Sanbglcute,  ruf)t  f)iebei  eine  grofje  33eranfwortnng.  2)ie  ?hu 
gen  unfter  amerifanifd)en  2)Jitbürger,  bie  Singen  ber  Scgiglatur  fmb  auf  ung  gerichtet. 


8 

Sie  Scutfdicn,  f}cipt  ti,  \tjc»ncn  feine  ©oiintag3(icfc|e,  fie  iroftcn  Tfjcater  uub  Sivt^iJ« 
l)äufcv  offen  Ijvibcn.  3rf;  fovbcre  eud)  batjer  auf:  »wenn  end)  baö  9Bof)l  eurer  ©tabt,  curet 
(familien,  lueun  end)  euec  eigencö  ®o^l  am  ^evjcn  liegt,  fo  er(;cbet  euve  «Stimme  fi'ir  euet 
9ied}t,  unb  laffet  eure  Oefe^geber  unb  bie  9Belt  wifTen,  ba^  if)r  oerlaumbct  »vcvben  feib, 
icenn  man  eud)  nad)fagt,  \i)x  wäret  aöiflenS,  bie  größte  aBü(}(tt)at,  bie  unfer  Staat  i'om 
(£d;övfer  ber  üBelt  unb  ber  (Staaten  empfangen  I;at,  um  gemeiner  8uft  widen  ju  ücrfaufen  ! 

3d}  würbe  am  tiebftcn  f)icr  fdjUepen,  unb  bie  weitere  S3ert()cibigung  ber  Scnntagö« 
feicr  gegen  Slngriffc  «crfd^iebener  5kt  bcn  9)Jännern  iiticrtaffen,  bie  beö  ijffcntlid)cn 
Sdebcnö  gcwc()nt  finb.  Sülein  e3  ill  wo'^t  mit  9led;t  ber  üBunfd)  aucigefprod}cn  worbcn, 
ba^  in  einer  ^aä)c,  bie  nwi  aH  Si'trgcr.  aU  @tcuevja(}(er;  ciU  Oatten  unb  SSiitcr  ebenfo 
\vd)l  ange()t,  Wie  als  St)rif}en,  and)  bie  (Stimme  ber  Saien  (aut  werben  fcHc.  3rf)  Witt 
ba^er  neri)  auf  bie  «orne^mfien  Sinwenbungen  eingeben,  weldje  bie  (Segner  ber  Sonntagijs 
feier  gegen  bie  (Sonntagögefc^e  ert^eben. 

''Man  wirft  biefeu  ®efe^eu  junädjft  »or,  fie  feien  nneonflituticneU,  weif  fie  S^eligionös 
jwang  auflegen,  wäbreub  bie  (jonftitution  beö  (Staate»;  5iew:9)'-''tf  fowo[)(  als  ber  93er5 
einigten  Staaten  freie  9(uöi'ibnug  jeber  9leligicu  fidjere.  Söcnn  t)ierniit  gemeint  ift,  ba^ 
bie  Sonj^itstion  unö  fein  9led)t  gebe,  bie  mit  ber  53ffc(gung  ber  Scinntagt^gcfelje  »erbnn« 
benen  Opf*-")-'  ''■^on  jcbem  33i"irgcr  ju  »erlangen,  fo  antworten  wir;  a((erbtngi5  giebt  fie  itn3 
baä  9led)t,  wenn  d  nad)  ber  SiJeinung  beä  55olfä  jum  a((gcmcineu  53cften  bicnt!  Sie 
(Sonftitution  nnfere«  Staate^  ift  barübcr  burdjauö  nid)t  fo  jweibeutig,  wie  unfere  Ocgnec 
glauben  madjen  woUeu.  Sic  füfircn  immer  nur  be n  (Sat^  am  ber  (Sonftitutiou  an,  bot 
iinö  ©ewiffeneifreifjeit  garantirt,  fie  fagen  aber  nid)t>5  ba»on,  baß  gteid)  Ijieranf  berSa^ 
folgt:  „5lber  bie  ©ewiffenöfrei^eit,  weld^e  :^ientit  geftdjcrt  wirb,  foK  nid;t  fo  gebeutet 
werben,  al^  ob  bamit  Sittcntcfigfeit  entfd;ulbigt  ober  (53cbräud)e  gcred}tfertigt  werben  bürfs 
ten,  welche  ftd;  mit  bcm  ^rieben  unb  ber  Sid)erf;cit  biefesS  Staats  nid}t  »ertragen." 

Unfere  Oegucr  »ergeffen  iiberl^aupt,  bap  bicfe«  8anb  »on  einem  d)rifttid)en  33o(fe  eos 
lontfirt  Werben  ift.  2)ic  Uierfaffer  ber  Sonflitution  ber  33crein.  Staaten  unb  aller  Sonfti; 
tutioneu  beä  Staate^  9?eW;9)orf  waren  (5l}riftcn;  fie  lebten  unter  unangefod)tenen  Sonus 
tagSgcfe^en ;  fie  ertannten  jWar  feine  einzelne  d)riftlid)e  Jlird)e,  Wcl}l  aber  bie  d}riftlid)e 
Sdeligion  iibcrbaupt  aU  bie  ©runblagc  ifjreö  StaatiJgebäubeö  an,  inbem  fie  baij  englifdjc 
Common  Law,  bic  d}rifltid)e  (Sf)e,  bcn  d)rifilid)en  6'ib  aboptirtcn  unb  bie  (Eröffnung  ifirer 
SSerfammlnngen  burc^  bag  ®cbet  d)rifilid;er  ®ciitlid)er  hii  auf  bcn  Ijeutigen  Xag  forts 
pfTanjten.  ©iefc  tfiatfäc^lidje  (Srflärung  iljrcr  9lbftd)t  muß  billiger  SBeife  fd}werer  wics 
gen,  aU  eine  (Srttärung  in  3Borten.  9Bcnn  fie  eine  fotdjc,  um  jebe  ®efal}r  einer  berrfdjen« 
ben  Äird)e  ju  »crmciben,  nitr  anbeutungäweife  ju  crfenueu  gaben,  fo  \*i  C6  bennod)  flar, 
baß  fie  nid)t  9lanm  für  bic  SRcligion  bcö  bamalö  ncd)  ungeborenen  freien  91Jenfd}engei)leä 
laffen  Wollten,  fonbem  einen  (^rifilid^cn  Staat  ju  griinben  meinten.  9Bic  fonnten  fie 
übcr'^aupt  an  einen  religionölofcn  Staat  bcnfen,  ba  ein  fold;e(5  Unbing  in  ber  aBett 
noc^  nie  ba  gewefcn  ifl ! 

35amit  treffen  wir  nun  aber  bcn  ^ern  ber  i^ragc.  9Benn  bie  9lngriffe  gegen  bie  bcs 
fie'^cnben  ®efe^e,  wie  unö  bereite  angefünbigt  ift,  aufö  äußerfie  getrieben  werben,  fo  f;an: 
belt  c«  ftd)  nid)t  me()r  um  ifire  größere  ober  geringere  Sd)iirfe,  um  ifire  Sweifmäßigfeit 
ober  Unjwecfmäßigfcit:  eö  Ijanbelt  fid)  »ielmcfir  ^^nlc^t  barum,  ob  wir,  auf  ber  ®rnnb« 
läge  ber  Sonftitution  ftc'^eub,  ein  djrtfilidje«  93 olf  bleiben  wollen  ober  nid^t. 

Db  biefe  Svagc  '^ier  jemals  praftifd)  big  auf  biefe  Spitze  getrieben  werben  wirb,  laffe 
ic^  unentfd)ieben,  villein  wer  etwa  meint,  eg  ^anble  fidj  bei  ben  Sonntag-^gefc^cn  um 
9lcußerlid)feiten,  um  bic  fid)  ein  (Sf)ri(i  uic^t  im  fümmern  braud)e,  ber  bebenfe  bod)  bic 
SD'löglid)feit,  baß  eg  fo  weit  fommen  fann.  @r  finbe  fic^  bal)er  nid)t  allein  mit  ber  9lb^ 
[Raffung  ber  bürgerlichen  Scnntaggfeier,  fonbern  and)  mit  ber  5lbfd)affnng  ber  (S^t-.  unb 
(Sigcntf)nmgr®efe^c  unb  ber  ganzen  jcl)n  ®ebote  üured)t,  unb  frage  fid),  wag  für  ®runb» 
lagen  ciueg  georbnetcn  Staateg  alöbann  nod)  übrig  bleiben. 

(Sin  anbcrcr  (Sinwanb  ift  ber,  baß  bie  Sonntagggcfe^e  eine  Ungcredjtigfeit  gegen  ben 
fleißigen  ?lrbeitcr  feien,  weil  fte  il)n  an  feinem  ©rwcrb  l^inbcru.  ®er  aber  weifi  nidjt, 
baß  l)ie.r  in  fcd)g  ij^agen  met)r  gearbeitet  unb  mcl)r  »erbicnt  wirb,  alg  in  (Suropa  in  fiebcn 


!£ageir?  2Beim  vriv  inui  aber  ntd)t  aUc  ®t\vexie  iinb  ^aubt^iennigcn  am  Soniitac;  tvcb 
ben,  uiit»  U11Ö  bamit  uiiber  bic  ®efc^e  unfcrcv  vil;i)fti"c{)cn  OJatiic  »evfiiiibifieii  iinb  in  einen 
\mi)xcn  ®efd)äftöwaf;nftnn  »evfadeu  Woden,  fo  ift  eö  offenbar  cine  Ungered}tigfeit,  »Dcnn 
Unr  aöirtfien  nnb  «Sdjanfpielem  adcin  ein  *J>rivilegium  geben,  un3  am  ©onntag  ivie  an 
alien  übrigen  S!agcn  auei^nbcufen. 

^d)  wcnbe  mid)  noc^  ju  einer  ginftenbnng  aubcrcr  5(rt,  Wd^i  oI;nc  Swcifet  fd)ou 
mand)em  I'on  (Snd;  unb  in  guter  Sieinung  gcmad)t  Werben  i|i,  nämlid;  ju  ber  *8ernfimg 
auf  euer  bcut|'d)e3  ©cmiitf),  bcm  eine  finfterc  9lnfd;auung  ber  fociaten  SQer^ältnif|cburd)= 
«U6  fremb  fein  miiffc,  wc^balb  and)  bie  bcutfd)cn  Äird)en  i^re  Sit^ciptin  nie  in  folcfiem 
^Ma^  auf  bicfcn  *l>unft  auögebctjut  I)aben,  wie  bie  anicrifanifrfjen.  ©arauf  wid  id)  üorerfl 
bcmerfen,  ba§  id)  Sebem  einen  (»eiteren  unb  frö()lid)eu  ©onntag  gönne  unb  wiinfd)e. 
^fann  cr  ben  nid)t  in  ber  Äird)e  ftnbcn,  fo  f)at  and)  ber  ?lermftc  ()unbcrt  anbcrc  ^PHttel, 
itm  Äcvper  unb  Oeitl  ju  erquirfcn.  3d)  leugne  nur,  bafi  er  baju  9öirt[)öl)äufcr  unb  Zi)cci' 
ter  pber  fonfl  ein  ©littet  niitfiig  f)abe,  \va3  Jlubcrc  in  if^rcr  ?ü-t  bcrSonntagöfeicr  ftört  unb 
®ewerbc  oT)ne  9lctf)  in  53cweguug  fcljt. 

3m  Ucbrigcn  gebe  id)  gerne  ju,  ba§  in  ?(o(ge  ber  entwicfelung  unb  ®efd)id)te  unfercä 
93clf^,  wie  ber  Srjie^ung  jcbeiS  cinjctncn  Seutfdicu,  unfcrc  9lnfd}auungcn  unb  93egriffe 
»on  bürger[id)cn  lNf(id)teu  r>erfd)ieben  ftnb  unb  r»erfdiicbcn  fein  mi'ijfen  pon  bcn  53egriffeu 
anberer  33ölfer,  wie  ber  (guglänber,  ©djotten  unb  5tmcrifaner.  3d)  leugne  ferner  nic^t, 
bag  bic  nac^  innen  gerichtete  ^rijmmigfeit  eine«?  beutfd)cn  (5()rif}en  vion  ber  nad)  auf5en 
ftrebenbcncineö  Slmerifaner»?  Ieid)t  untcrfd)ä^t  wirb.  9UIein  id)  bin  and)  überscugt,  bag 
äWifd)en  beu  Srtremen  auf  beibcn  ©eiten  bie  grcge  a)ic()r^af)l  ftd)  über  ade  berartigc 
*Punftc  verftänbigen  fann.  Unb  gewig  würbe  eine  foId)C  aßerftäubigung,  Woju  eud)  I)icr 
bic  amerifanifd'cn  ©ruber  bie  >0änbe  bieten,  unb  ein  aufrid;tige6  3ufammenwirfen  in  fot^ 
d)en  j^ragcn  nur  jum  ^eit  unfercr  bcutfd)en  Jl'irriKu  augfd)(agen. 

Sffiir  ftnb  f)ter  fpäter  eingebogen,  a(g  bie  3lngfo  Stmcritaner  unb  Tonnen  unö  nid)t  me^t 
l)erau'5ncf)mcn,  beu  3»ftitutionen  bcö  Sanbcö  ani?fd)licgnd)  unfern  (5f)araftcr  aufjubrürfen. 
35er  Slnftanb  fd)on  erforbert,  ba§  wir  uni3  in  befte()cnbc  iDrbnungen  fi'igen,  unb  nur  Wenn 
wir  bie  offenbar  guten  ©citen  beä  amcrifanifd)cn  ®ci|le5  uuä  aneignen,  tonnen  wir  I)of= 
fen,  aud)  unfcren  beutfd)en  ®cij!  fein  iri)eit  bayt  beitragen  ju  laffen,  bag  eine  ju  @ctte3 
(Sf)re  gere!d)enbe  neue  ©efiattung  an&  biefem  aSölfcrgcmifd)  bcryorgefie. 

äöenn  aber  bie  Sanbt^tente,  beuen  wir  in  biefem  Äampft  ats  ®egner  gegenübevflef)en, 
«n^  vorwerfen,  bag  wir  unfere  beutfc^c  Olatur  r>er(eugnen,  fo  wibcrfpred)C  id)  bem  ()ierniit 
öffcntlid'.  3c^  leugne  gan^  unb  gar,  bag  ber  ®eif},  bcm  fie  f)ulbigen,  ber  b  eu  t  f  c^  c  ®cifi 
fei.  3d)  weig,  e^  ij}  ber  ®eifl  mand)cr  3!)eutfd)cn  ;  aber  ber  bcutfd)e  @eifi,  ber  unfercö 
JBoIfeö  ®röge  rinb  (5f)re  tfl,  ber  i)!  er  nic^t!  35  cn  ®cift  ()aben  unfcrc  SBorettcrn  ^aifx- 
I)unbcrtc  (ang  in  3ud^t  unb  ernftem  ©inn  gcfövbert  unb  gepflegt,  unb  ber  Sduf  beutfd)en 
^^tcige«,  beutfc^er  jtraft,  beutfd)er  S'reuc,  bcutfd)er  'Jrömmigfeit,  ber  uni^,  fo  ®ott  will, 
ond)  f)ier  nicfet  üertaffen  fod,  ifl  älter  al>5  ber  ®cifl  ber  3ud)tloftgfeit,  ber  ocrneincnbc 
@eif},  ber  erfi  in  biefem  3a[)r^unbert  aufgertanbcn  ift  unb  fid)  an  ber  2lrbcit  auf  ameri: 
fantfd)cm  SBoben,  wie  id)  ficffc,  bic  3äf)ne  auiSbrcdjen  unb  cnblic^  jur  ffieftnnung  fommcn 
wirb. 


Sßd^renb  ber  öorfteljenben  'Sithe  fuditen  etlid}e  ©egtier  in  allerlei  SBeife  Störung 
JU  erregen.  2)te  ^clijei  tftat  ifinen  jebcd)  ßinfjalt,  unb  bie  ungeheure  2ReI)r5üI)(  ber 
SSerfammlung  gab  irieberbolt  ibre  3u[timnnmg  ju  ben  Heuf^erungen  bei?  2?crfi|erä 
jU  crfennen.  Dbmcf)!  er  jebc  9teu^erung  biefer  Hrt  auv  33efd)eibcnbeit  ju  uiiter= 
brücfen  fudbte,  fonnte  er  bod^  am  Sd^lu^,  rtio  feine  3Borte  fo  rec^t  fc^Iagenb  ben 
6inn  unb  bie  ©efüble  ber  Sßerfammelten  au^fpradien,  fie  nid)t  nerfjinbern,  if)r  Qin-- 
»crftaiibcnfein  mit  il)m  auf':^  beftimmteftc  an  ben  Sag  5U  legen. 

(J--5  folgte  je^t  eine  längere  3^ebe  wn  ^^aftcr  Dr.  G.  ^.  Q.  Stoblmann,  feit  brei= 
unbjnianjig  3;al)ren  ^rcbiger  an  ber  lutberifdien  St.  3}tattbäuglird^e  in  ber  SöBaUer^ 


10 

StvaJ5C.  Scr  nad)ftef)cntic  SluejU^  au^  bcvfclben  ent[}ä(t  jiuar  nid^t  allied,  na° 
barin  SBid^ti^e^  imb  2Bertf)t)olIe^  gefagt  luar,  bod>  finb  bie  ü o me ^mften  fünfte 
»riebcrgegeben. 


L   91cbc  uon  $aftor  Dr.  Stofjimann, 

^cd^gefcf)ä^te  fflcvfammdmg !— 9Btr  finb  ^kv  uidit  jufammcngefommcn,  .Äinl;c  511 
I)aUcn ;  eö  ifi  cine  93crfamm(ung  freier  53i:rgcr  eines  djrifilicijcn  «Staates,  ^üi  fo(d;c 
ncljmen  uiir  iinfer  Dlcdjt  in  9Infprud).  ©er  ®cgenftanb  ift  gro^,  ja  fo  umfaffcnb,  bag  c3 
fc^ivev  ifl,  baö  aBirtitigcrc  I)erau^äunef)men.  <Düc^  bcr  SBeg  ifl  fo  eben  burc^  bie  Stnrebc 
bed  35ovfil^ev(3  gcbafjut.  3d)  nannte  bercittJ  unfcren  ©taat  einen  d)rifilid)cn ;  bcr  .§erc 
33orft^cr  Ijat  mit  9ved}t  baffclbe  f)eröorgcf;oben.  !Da  jcbocft  auf  bicfcn  $unft  Stdc«  an- 
fonunt,  fo  trete  id)  eigenbö  mit  bet  Srage  unter  end):  3i^  unfer  Sanb  ein  (i^rifls 
I  i  d)  e  0  ober  n  i  d)  t  ? 

2)ie  9Bid)tigfcit  bicfcr  Swgc  muf;  jebcm  cinteud)tcn.  ©inb  bie  bereinigten  Staaten 
fein  d)riftlid)e^  Sanb,  bann  ()aben  unfere  ®egner  Sftcd}t,  unb  wir  mögen  ju  ^auö  ge()cn. 
5)1  bagcgen  unfcr  Öanb  ein  djrif^Iidjeö,  fo  flet)t  unfere  <Sa(i)t  in  jcber  ^infid)t  auf  einem 
v^unbamentc,  »c(d)C'5  uimmcrmetjr  jufammenfturjen  fann  noc^  unrb.  QSotten  unfere 
©egner,  bie  S^inbe  be(5  ©ornitagd,  fid)  nid)t  fctb)t  »ertoren  geben,  fo  muffen  ftc  bie  Slid): 
tigfeit  beffen,  wa3  id)  bef)aupte,  leugnen.  25a3  t()un  ftc  bann  freiU(5&  fii^n  unb  fed.  <Sic 
l)abcn  ben  2)tutf),  bcr,  U'äre  er  nic^t  ein  grauenf)aftcr,  Diele  ßfjrijien  bcfd)ämte,  unb  fiefien 
jid)  fctbfl  atö  9lt()eiflcu  fiin.  ©ie  a(tc  ()eibnifd)C  ®ötter(ef)rc  erjä:^(t  »cn  SJütanen,  bie 
ben  ^Oimmcf  fti'irmcn  tvcKtcn.  9lud  bcm  (£d)cogc  bcr  fogcuanutcn  Slufflärung  fd)cineu 
iif)nltd)C  STitanen  ()cniorgc()n  JU  tno((en.  ©agen  fie  uid)t  felbll,  fie  niofltcn  ,,nid)t  unter 
bic  C^rrfi-^aft  einer  befiimmten  Sfletigion  gcfned)tct  fein;"  fic  »oflten  mit  einem  ,,ameri: 
fantfd)^d)vitKid)en  ®ott"  nid)t(3  ;^u  t^un  l)aben?  Srflären  ftc  fid)  nidjt  für  ^umanii^en, 
bic  nur  bcn  5D{cnfd)cngciit  jum  ®ctt,  unb  fomit  fid)  fctbfl  ju  if)rcm  etcnbcvs  ftcinen  ®c(^cn 
mad)cn  ?  5il  unfer  Sanb  nun  fein  c^rifilidjci?  Sanb,  fo  ftabcn  biefc  unfere  (juma: 
nirtifd)cu  SiJitbiirgcr  baö  vof(c  Stecht,  fiicr  bcr  ?Utärc  unb  J!cmv»cl  if)rer  eben  genannten 
©i.'t'Cn  fo  v»ie(c  unb  fo  irunbcrlid)C  aufjurid)tcn,  »ric  fie  nur  Sufl  ^aben.  3fl  unfcr  Sanb 
aber  ein  d)riftlid)cs,  bann  toirb  ftd)  fein  33o(f  fold)'  alberncö  unb  ücrberbtid)eä  ©cbafircn 
fo  wenig  gcfadcn  laffcn,  wie  bad  3:reiben  ber  a}tormoncn,bic  bcfanntlid)  etwas  §icf)nlidfcS 
iicrfud)ten. 

■§anb  in  ^anb  mit  biefcr  ©d)Wärmcrct  einet  i'crfinflerten  9?ernuuft  ge!^t  bie  ©d)Wa«^s 
I)cit  oictcr  IBcfcnncr  (5()rifli,  bie  bcm  Dbigen,  o^ne  cö  ju  woHen,  fafl  beiftimmcn.  ffio 
jene  broTjen,  ba  fcnfjcn  fte :  ©oKtc  unfcr  Sanb  ein  d)riftlid)CS  fein  ?  ©in  Sanb 
mit  fo(d)er  Sorru^tion,  ein  SSolf,  baö  in  fold)cn  üOJaffcn  bcn  SDJammon  anbetet?  Des 
war  ein  d)rift(id)ei^,  aber  ber  giuf)nt  tfi  baf)in!— 5ßir  legen  aber  biefcn  ©d)Wad)cn  eine 
®cgcnfrage  V'or,  nämlid)  bie:  i|l  unfer  Sanb  eine  Slevnbtif  ?  ?Repubtifancr  fofttcn  ntd)t 
5|}vaf|er  unb  5?i,nfd)wcnbcr  fein,  fonbern  mäfjig  unb  uüd>tcrn  ;  foHicn  nid)t  IJagcbicbc  unb 
©d)c(me  fein,  fonbern  rcb[id)C,  treue  58itrger,  bie  baö  2Bof)l  bci5  ®cmeinwefenS  fud)cn  wie 
i()r  eigene.?.  Unfer  Sanb  aber  birgt  ^^raffcr  unb  S'agebicbc  in  Stenge,  baju  ©cmagcgen 
unb  gefteimc  9lbfotntiftcn  in  feinem  ©d)i:ofi.  Unb  bennoc^  wcijj  3cbcr,  baf;  eci  eine 
:)lcpub!if  ift,  ein  ^vciftaat,  bcr  ftd)  fclbft  ©cfct'.c  gicbt,  unb  von  fe(b|lgcwäl)[tcn  Cbrig; 
feiten  regiert  wirb.  iWit  g(cid)em  Sfled)t  bcfiauptcn  wir  nun:  unfer  Sanb,  wenngteid)  oiel 
und)rif}lid)cs  ÜBcfcn,  ja  fogar  erf (artet  9Uf)eiSmuS,  ftd)  barin  finbct,  iß  bennod^  ein  d)tifi« 
lid)e'^  Sanb! 

Unfere  ®cgncr  frage  id)  :  2Baren  bic  crßen  ®rünbcr  unferC'^  SanbeS  etwa  dürfen,  «6ci= 
bcn,  SiJormoncu— ober  waren  fie  niriit  (5f)riffen  ?  Unb  unfere  C>onßitution,  iß  fic  nic^t 
aus  bcn  9(cftcn  beS  93a>imeS  bes  Scbcns  ficniorgewadifen,  bcr  ba  iß  bas  Äreu}  ?  ^n  bcn 
Säubern,  wo  lu-r  j5Weif)nnbcrt  3a()rcn  baS  5B(ut  unb  bic  STiriincn  fo  »ie(cv  Sliärt^rer  ßoffen, 
in  (Snglanb,  ^ottanb,  im  ©aljbnrgifd)cn,  ba  fcimtcn  ßc  an's  Sid)t,  bic  crßen  jartcn  j?eimc 


11 

bc5  nun  inni  flatten  boiiaoitcu  23aitme5  iinfiner  '?5vci()cit.  Unb  bic  3)^änncv,  btc  ocv  ad}t» 
jivj  3;a()vcn  unfcnu  ^^aiibc  ein  fclbftänbigetJ  Sl^afeiu  erfäuipftcu,  unb  bic,  iffiaö^ingtcK 
I'oran,  in  iOicr  ©cmiitl)  gleid)  iicvgcn  auö  bei  ®cUgcfcl)id}te  (jcrfcvvagen,  waren  ftc  etwa 
^^lunianiften  ?  3()vc  äöcvfc  bezeugen  cä,  ba§  (ic  an  feinen  anbcvn  ®ott,  aliJ  an  ben  @ott 
^er  (il)i-iftcn  glaubten.  !Ji-cu  unb  lange  ^at  i()v  ®eifl  baö  5Bclf  getragen.  9Icd)  immer 
ruft  esJ  in  [einen  SRepräfcntantcn,  bet  ber  (Srciffnung  jebec  @i^ung,  ben  &ctt  feiner  iöätec 
an— unb  glaubt  nur,  eö  wirb  bag  and)  ferner  tf)un  !  9]od)  immer  befennt  ca  buvd)  feinen 
^'ibfdiwur  auf  bie  Sibet,  me^r  aU  irgcnb  ciu  anbercö  d)riftlid)eö  9Solf,  ben  (Sott,  ben  eö 
geeljrt  ^abeu  will. 

(Si5  Ijdt  ciu  fd}ijueg  93annev,  unfcr  93otf— Iciber !  iter  »ci§,  cb  nid)t  balb  jcrviffen? 
(Sine  (^a^ne  aber  nenne  id),  bie  wirb  mit  ©ott  nimmer  jervei^en.  2Ber  fte  nidit  feljen  wiU, 
ber  bort  fie.  Jp>unberttaufenb  Oloifen  geben  »on  SJieer  ju  ilTieer  bag  Seiden,  ba§  bie 
Scnntaggfatjue  aufgejcgcn  iti  unb  ba-J  9lab  ber  2öettgcfd)äftc  ftille  jieljt.  3cbe  biefcc 
©Iccfeu  ift  eine  Snnge,  U''eld)e  laut  Dcrfihibigt:  Unfcr  8anb  ifi  bei  all  fciHcn  SJlangeln 
unb  Sünben  ein  d)ri|llid!)et5  ?anb ! 

2)arum,  amerifanifdteö  33clf,  baftc  wa3  bu  l^afi,  beinen  Sonntag!  (Sr  ifl  ber  uou 
©Ott  bir  gegebene  Dtuljetag.  (£d)on  in  ber  (£d)ir.pfung  bilbete  ®ott  t'ie  üBcd^c  ai.  9io(^ 
tiefer  aber  feilte  biefe  (Eiutbeilung  unb  .^^eiligung  ber  3cit  ben  93ölfcrn  beg  (Srbh-cifeöeins 
geprägt  werben.  3"  ben  jeljn  ©cboten  wuvben  ©ebanfeu  ©otteä  (jerniebcrgebradjt  unb 
effenbart.  Uuc  uon  biefeu  wirb  webec  bag  biitte,  nod)  bag  uieite,  fünfte,  ober  fcd)|lc  * 
®ebot  burd^  jungamerifanifd)e  «g>äubc  auggetcfd)t  werben. 

S'nblid)  offenbarte  ftd)  ber  3l(lgegcnwdrtigc  in  bem  S^ftf^)  geworbenen  SBort.  Sa 
ging  ber  ©onntag  auf  iiber  ber  t)eibnifd)en  9BeU,  ber  !?iig  ber  9tuferj^ef)ung,  ber  Jag  ber 
■Jrenbc  im  4perrn,  bag  Stbbilb  beg  Scbeng  in  ber  (Swigfcit. 

©er  grijßefte  uub  bemiit^igfte  aller  !l)eutfrf)en  aber,  ber  3erbrec^cr  ber  Letten  alleg 
Wirflid)en  '!l>faffcutl)umü,  SDiartin  ßutljer,  fc^rieb  ber  ganjen  2öelt  bie  fürjcflc  unb  heüi 
(Irflärung  bavou :  ,,9Btr  füllen  ®ott  fihd}tcn  uub  lieben,  bafi  wir  bie  5?rebigt  unb  fein 
2Sort  uid)t  ^eradjteu,  fonbcrn  baffelbe  f)eilig  balteu,  gerne  ^ören  unb  lernen."  Unb 
nnfre  beutfc^e  (Sprad)e  gab  bem  !Iage  bcu  fd)önften  9iauicn.  ©ic  nannte  ilin  (Sonntag, 
bag  m,  Sonnentag. 

S)enn  an  bem  Jage  gebt  ncd)  ftds  eine  neue  ©cnne  auf,  weit  fterrlidbcr  unb  bauernbet 
n(g  bag  majei^ätifdje  ©eftirn,  bag  ben  Jag  mad)t.  ÜBo  fte  aufgff)t,  ba  \)ti$t  eg  fort  nnb 
fort:  (Sg  werbe  i!id)t !  SSor  jweitaufcnb  3al)ven  war  !l)entfd)lanb  mit  unburd)bringlid)ert 
i'öilceru  unb  ©ümpfeu  bcPccft.  Diocl)  wilccr  aber  a(g  in  bem  iante  faf)  eg  in  ben  ^erjcn 
feiner  bcibnifd)en  (äinwL'bner  ang.  20er  war  eg,  ber  bag  Opferblut  t?on  i()ren  Rauben 
wufd)  unb  il)rc  ^erjen  mit  ber  Siebe  ®otteg  erfüllte?  Jt)atcn  bag  Srniben  ober  Static 
naliften,  ober  gar  atbeiftifd)C  ^umaniften?  ©eit  wann  fanbtcn  bic  wo^l  SD^ijfionarc 
ang  ? — 2llg  aber  93onifaciug  nnb  feine  ®efäf)rtcn  fid)  aug  Siebe  ju  @()rillo  bem  Jobc 
weil)ten,  ba  ging  ber  ©ame  neuen  Sebeug  auf. 

Äann  Semanb  bie  iffiirfungen  beg  t*id)teg  befdirciben  ?  Sßon  eben  fold)er  S(rt  ftnb  bie 
erlcud)tenben,  crwärmenben  ©trablcn,  bie  pcm  ©cnntag  anggef)en  in  bie  >§erjeu  ber  Uns 
rut}igcn,  Jroillofeu,  ©terbenben,  ober  ber  93er,^weifetnbeji. 

Si'eun  fein  ©onntag  wäre.! — Sann  würbe  ber  >§od)mut^  im  .§erjcn  bcg  o^ner)in  fd&on 
fo  ftoljen  2'ienfd)en  big  ^^ur  ©elb|li?ergctterung  wadjfen,  wie  einft  bei  ben  f)umauif]ifdien 
ülömern,  ober  fjeut^^utage  bei  ben  Königen  non  ©abome^.  ©er  ©cnntag  aber  s^erbütet 
bag,  benn  er  beugt  bie  Äniec  ber  Ferren  wie  ber  ©flauen  vox  bem  Jfircne  beg  allein  nuid)- 
tigen  ®otteg. 

Uufer  £<aub  oI)ne  ©onntag!— SBefd)'  entfeKlic^er  ©ebanfe !  (Sine  Oiepublif  feilte 
baucrn  o^ne  ben  Jag,  ber  im  ©titlen  ben  ©tolj  untergräbt  nnb  brid)t ! 

Ser  bie  (ängel  nid)t  anerfeunt,  bie  au  bem  Jage  ju  S)iilltcncn  augfTiegcn  nub  nngc= 
f)örte  ®cfpräd)e  fül)reu  in  ben  gei)eimften  .ftammern  ber  Jper^en— wer  bie  ©cgengifte  nidit 
fpüren  fanu,weld)e  bag  (Soangclium  unaufljörlid)  in  bie  ^jäuluif  beg  3eitgeijicg  auggießt, 
ber  ift  ärmer  alg  orm  !  ÜSenn  aber  gar  unfre  ©egner  bcbaupten,— uub  in  ber  J^at,  fie 
^abcn  cg  gewagt!— ein  ftillcr  ©cnntag  „bemcralifirc",  fo  mu^  if)r  ffiort  »erfjallen  »oi 


12 

bcin  ®ef;euf  ücravmcnber  ^familien  unb  bcm  ^(irven  bcr  Sietten  in  ©cfangniiTcn ;  beim 
fc(d;ev  unb  äf;ulid)cr  ^i^nimei-,  ana  ber  SoniitagtSeutf^etligung  erivadjfcn,  kgt  fc(;avfe^ 
©egciijcugntf  ab. 

Spalte,  UMt5  bii  t)ail,  55ü[{  oon  9lmcrifa,  beinen  Sonntag  !  (Sr  ifl  bic  2)Jaucr  um  ben 
fdjönften  ©avteu,  ja,  um  bag  *)3arabieö,  fouiet  eö  fein  fann,  auf  bem  Scnienacfer  biefct 
SBelt !  Sagt  bie  iWaucv  einreiben,  unb  if)v  \uerbet  fef)en,  wie  bie  wilben  SJfjierc  ciubrcdjen 
unb  bic  Q3Iumcu  jevflampfen !  Sagt  ben  %hq  ber  (Srbauung  jum  S^agc  ber  ©inntnlufl 
werben,  unb  ungU'icflictjc  (Seeleute,  wclfenbe  Jünglinge  unb  Jungfrauen,  ju  (Sf(a\jcn  et:= 
niebvigte  9lrt)eitev  tperben  ju  fpat  ben  uncrfe|Iid)en  SSerhift  beweinen. 

®euu  waö  ifi  bcr  fd)ijnfte  Sd)inucf  unfvcö  großen  Sßolfeö?  ©cine  SBätber,  5lc(fcr, 
Söiefen,  feine  Sdjiffe  unb  ©d)ä|c,  feine  93erfaffung  ?  3Bcr  woftte  biefe  ©egnungen  ®ottce 
uid)t  ancvfenncn  ?  Unb  benncd;  gibt  eä  einen  fö|l(id)cren  ©c^mucf.  Unfcv  95olf  ijl'ö, 
wenn  ei  am  Sonntag  ju  9)ti((icnen  bcn  lebcnbigen  (Sott  anbetet! 

aBaö  ni'i^en  (Sonjlitutionen  nub  ©efe^e,  unb  wären  fie  uon  Sngetn  gemad)t,  wenn  ben 
.^crjcn  bcr  ^Bürger  bie  ^raft  beö  ©e^orfamä  fef;(t?  !l5a  glcid)en  fie  bcn  ®ewebcn  bcr 
©piitiif;  SiOiücfeu  werben  barin  gefangen,  2öe3pcn  unb  «^ornitfe  brcd)en  bnrdj.  2)aö 
wußten  bic  Sßäter  biefcö  SBclfe»?,  bie  erfien  58aumcificr  feiner  Sfrfaffung,  wof)I.  2)iefc 
c(;crncn  S'tänncr,  bic  atteii  Puritaner— oft,  weit  ja  aud)  fie  fe^lcubc  3){enfdjen  waren, 
Wül)[  JU  c(;crn  unb  flari- — ücrj^anbcn  ba«  bcffcr  al6  ganjc  ©d)aarcn  i[)rer  in  Süflc  »erixus 
fenbcn,  feilen  (Siifel.  ©arum  bauten  fie  bie  2Jiaucr  um  bic  ^ßflanjung  ©otte»«,  um  ben 
©onutag,  fo  ilarf  unb  fcfi ;  benn  ftc  erfannten,  bag  Dcniutf),  Sauterfcit,  JEreuc,  ^eufd)= 
Itcit,  Uubcftcd)lid)fcit  uid}t  auö  bem  ^rö()ncu  bcr  Süfte  wäd)fi,  ncd)  au3  bcm  tro|,igen 
Jpcrjcn,  fonbcvu  nur  auö  bcm  lebcnbigen  ©(aubcn  an  bcn  lebcnbigen  ®ott. 

©0  gewig  bie  f)eibnifd)en  Oicpublifcn  ber  33orjeit  ücifelen,  fobalb  bie  ,,^urd)t  bcr 
©Otter"  ijevfd)wanb,  fo  gewig,  unb  ned)  ftd)crcr  unfcie  d)rifind)c  IRcvubtif,  fobalb  ftc  ba3 
Oil)rifientf)um  uertägt.  öifcvt  bagcgen,  foi'icl  il}r  woüt,  cö  bleibt  bennori)  eine  unnnu 
ftogtirtje  gcfd)id)tlid)e  JJf^atfadjc ;  auö  bcm  ©d)oogc  beä  Sf^riflentf^umö  traten  nnfere 
©taatcu  au'iS  fiid)t  ;  ber  (5(;ri|lcnglaube  war  il)vc  ÜBiege,  ifire  ?Jat)rung  unb  i{}r  -öatt. 
Unb  uufcr  ©taatofd)iff  wirb  ,^evfd}citcvn,  fobatb  cä  in  gottei5[ä)lerIid)em  33rinfel  bcn  ©cnn- 
tag, baö  förtlid)ilc  (Sibc  bcr  53äter,  über  33orb  wirft. 

©0  rufe  id)  benu  ganj  gctroft :  <§altct  euren  ©onntag,  ben  amcrifanifdjcn 
©onntag,  grabe  wie  er  ifi !  Sic  ®cgncr  fdjrcien  :  2)ian  wi'(  unö  jum  33cten  jwiugen  ; 
bie  ülluinncr  beä  9f{iuffd)ritts3  mcd)ten  un(5  beu  alten  jübifdjcn  ©abbatf)  aufbürbcn;  ja,  bcr 
®enng  bcr  freien  2uft  \\i  innboten  k.  ffiaä  fagt  i^r  baju,  Sreunbe?  a)iand)e  öon  cuc^ 
finb  fd)L'n  lange  3kil)ve  im  Saube,  bic  frage  id) :  I)abt  if)r  nur  ein  cinjigeä  Slial  gcljört, 
bag  3emanb  gc.^wungeu  Würbe,  ju  beten  ober  in'ö  ©cttcöfjauö  ju  gel)n  ?  S!rieb  je  bic 
55olijei  end)  unb  eure  Äinber  au-^  ®ottc(3  freier  9?atur  in'ö  enge  ^auö  ?  Unb  fafjet  i()r  je 
(Sineu,  ber  bcn  ©onntag  enit)ciligte,  mit  bem  Sl'obe  b  eft  raft  ?  9luf  ber  ©d)änbung  bc3 
aUtef^amentlid)cn  ©abbatr)'^  aber  jlanb  ja  Sobcöftrafc.     (2  SOlofe  31,  14,  15.) 

3u  weld)en  SBaffen  bic  ®cgner  bed)  greifen  muffen  !  SDian  ficfjt,  wie  ft^wcr  cä  ifl, 
eine  fd)tcd)te  Qadje  ju  »ertbcibigen.  2)ennod)  barf  id)  bic  »cn  fold)en  SBaffen  S3cficgten, 
Hid)t  ofiuc  ffieitcrcö  »erbammen.  3cl)  befenne  frei,  aud)  id)  war  einf^  beftegt.  ?(1(5  iä) 
öor  bcinal)e  fiebenuubjwanyg  3al)ren  mit  beu  2)Jeinigcn  in  bcm  bamala  fernen  üBcilcn 
mid)  nicberlieg,  ba  fiel  aud)  mir  ber  J!ag  wie  crfältcnb  anf'^  ^crj.  6inft  fa()  id),  bag  ein 
.ftnabc,  bcr  am  ©onntag  einige  wilbcn  ,^irfd)en  ))fiiuttc,  »ou  einem  alten  ^htritaner  bcg; 
Iialb  getabelt  würbe,  ©o  freunblid)  ber  Tabel  aud)  war,  bennod)  frcfteltc  mid)  fold)'  gcs 
feg,lid)ed  2Bcfen  an;  id)  fe[)nte  mid),  fajl  l)eimwef)franf,  naä)  Wärmerer  l'uft !  5ll(ein  — 
ber  alte  Puritaner  ift  fiirjlid)  jnr  9lut)c  eingegangen,  nad)bem  er  ein  jngenblid)  frol)e3 
^cr^  bis!  i^nm  5'obe  bcwal)rt  batte.  Unb  ber  .tnabe  ?  6r  merfte  fid)  bie  Üebre,  unb 
gewig,  fie  f)at  i()m  wcbcr  an  feiner  ®efnnbl)cit,  noc^  feiner  ■§abe,  nod)  foullwie  gcfd)abct. 

33or  .turjem  fagte  ein  armer  Jlrbeit^manu  :  ©lauer  9)?ontng  pagt  uid)t  für  2lmerihi. 
9Bibcrlcgt  ben  iDiann,  ifir  ®cgucr!  ®laubt  nur,  i()rer  ftnb  imcIc,  bic  fo  bcnfen.  Uufcr 
Saub  ifl,  ba-5  t'inn  uid)t  genug  gefagt  Werben,  eine  gicpublif.  •§errfd)t  in  einer  fold)fu 
ntd)t  ein  gewiffcr  ©vartani^muö,  fo  gerät^  ftc  in  gänlnig.    3u  ÜBien  unb  $ariö  mag 


13 

mau  am  Scniitag  jingcn  uiib  f^ringcu  unb  Mingett.  3m  imc()tt'nicu  9liiieiifa  nimmt  fid) 
baö  fd)fcd)t  auö,  unb  bringt  nocl)  [d)tccf)tere  ^vudjt.  3n  einer  a}{cnavc{)ie  I}ält  bcr  S.[)rcu 
baö  Sd;iff  iiber'm  SBaffer;  in  einer  Slepubtif  mu^  jebcr  Sürger  mit  barüOcr  n?ad)cn,  "taf, 
ber  Stnrm  baö  Sdjiff  nid}t  jerfc^eHe,  nod)  geucr  plij^ti^  anöbredje  unb  es?  rerficcre.  4ßc{)£ 
bcm  Sanbc  mit  unfcrer  Setfaffung,  wenn  (eine  ^Bürger  anö  ^Bummlern  bcftcl)n  cbcv  auö 
Seuten,  bic  feinen  ^alt  in  ®ctt  Ijaben  !  SBenn  bie  Untcrtbanen  cincii  iDet^pcten  am  Tage 
bes  >Ocm;  ben  (£d}»ei|  bcr  SBcdjc  »crgeuben,  (o  \xiirb  ibrem  J3errfd)cr  baö  9icgtcren  »cl)I 
um  fc  leid)tev;  tjicr,  am  ©timmfaflcn,  iüirb  eä  unmögtidj !  2)at3  teipt  i[)r  ®cgner  fo 
gut,  unc  wir. 

<£e  rufe  id)  bcnn  enbtid) :  tagt  nnö  ben  Itag  Ratten, grabe  umc  toir  if)n  l^abcn,  unb  tpic 
2!5cntfd)e  ooran!  Dber  warum  foütcn  tnir  bat?  niri}t  ?  SEiv  !Deuti"d)e  fxnb  nid)t  l'an= 
bci5üerrätf)er !  'JZetn,  wir  wcdcn  bie  aufcpfcrnbften  grennbe  unfvcg  8lbüVtio'33atcrlanbe3 
fein  unb  bleiben.  9lid}t  ein  atfjeiftifdjeö  Sßolf  ift  bag  unfrige  i  Olein^  ba^  war  e^  nims 
mer,  unb  bas  fo(t  unb  wirb  eä  nimmer  Werben.  S)ie  Jtinber  unfevä  93atcrlanbc^  ()abcu 
tanfcnbfadjen  gegen  mit  ()eri'ibec  gcbrad}t.  aSer^cfikn  wir  eö  nnö  jebcd)  nid)t:  in 
biefem  (Stiirfe  l)aben  ftc  mandjetJ  Slergcrnifi  erregt.  2)aä  fctltc  in  einer  @ad)c,  bie  fo 
Bjcfcntlid)  jum  -§eit  bc^  l'anbe^  gercid)t,  nimmer  fo  fortget^n.  £)arum  ta§t  unö  aud> 
l^ierin  i,H>ranfd)rciteu !  ÜSir  !Deutfd)e  wodcn  nid)t  jurücf  in  ^Barbarei ;  wir  woKen  ^oxU 
f<^ritt.    Slber  bringen  wir  jum  watjren  Üic^t! 

©arum  iioran,  im  ®uteu  voran !  Unb  nid}t  etwa  nur  bie  ©iener  bcr  Äircije  fcricit 
»oran.  3^r  beutfdjen  Äauf:  unb  ®efd;äftöleute,  f^elfet  nnß,  unfer  gcliebteö  -33oIf  burd) 
baö  (SiiaHgclium  ju  tjebcn  !  3I)r  Slerjte,  wirfet  mit  unö  ba()in,  ba^  unfer  SSolf  liier  nid)t 
nad)  icib  unb  Seele  ju  ©ruiibe  qcljc,  fonberu  cvfiavfe !  3f)r  IKebaftorcn  ber  beutfc^cn 
3eituugeu,  ii}t  bittet  eine  ü)iad)t,  bic  entwcbcr  jur  furdjtbarften  Scrfiörung  ober  jnm 
reid)ficn  gegen  wirft,  äßarum  fd}md^t  i^r  fo  i^ft,  c()ne  ?(upnal)me,  bie  ©iencr  bcö  ß'Dans 
gelium^,  bai3  ja  ber  2BcIt  baö  erfiaUcnbe  (galj  war— wie  ii^x  axid  ber  @efd)ic^tc  gut  genug 
wi^t,  beficr  aiß  bie,  weldje  i^r  beletjrt! 

5l}x  Sätcr  unb  9.1iütter  aber,  ^elft  i^)r  unö  nidjt,  feib  i  (}  r  tiifjig,  fo  werben  eure 
Jlinbec  mit  fdjwertn  3tnfcu  für  eure  giniben  gatjlen!  8ef)vt  if)r  füe  I)tngegen  burd)  euer 
SBort  unb  Sorbilb  ben  ©cnntag  fo  red)t  aUi  einen  ©onnentag  bctradjteu,  fo  wirb  baä 
&id}t,  baä  i^nen  an  bicfcm  S^age  aufging,  i(;ncn  an<i)  bann  (cudjten,  wenn  bie  Ic^te  9Jad)t 
bunfet  vun-  i^ncn  liegt,  ba^  fie  freubig  in  baä  l'icb  bcö  ®ercd)ten  cinftimmen :  „3d)  weif, 
ba^  mein  (Srlöfer  lebt !" 

Tie  35etfammlung  ftinimtc  nunme()r  bie  folgenben  fd^önen  SSerfe  an,  nad)  ber 

^IRcIobie:  3!Bad)et  auf,  ruft  wü  bie  Stimme. 

®ctte«  «Stabt  f}e()t  feil  gegrüiibct  3ion'ö  ijljore  liebt  vor  allen 

Slnf  bc-il'gc"  53ergen  ;  eü  »crbünbet  Scr  ^crr  mit  gnäb'gcm  3ßof)lgefa(lc«, 

gicf)  wiber  fie  bic  ganjc  fficlt;  ''Madjt  iljre  91iegcl  ftarf  unb  fc'ft; 

penned)  ftebt  fie  unb  wirb  ftefien,  (gegnet,  bie  bariiincn  Wobncn, 

a^ian  wirb  mit  ©tarnten  an  il)r  fe£icn,  2öci^  ii6erfd)wänglid)  bcm  \u  lohnen, 

3Bcr  bier  bie  ^pnt  unb  *JBarf)e  ()ält.  5)er  il)n  nur  tl)nn  unb  Watten  lä^t. 

55cr  ^ütcr  ^fracl'e  9Bic  grcg  ift  feine  ^ulb  ! 

5}t  ibreö  ^eilcä  'Jet^.     ^aftelnjab!  ®ic  trägt  er  mit  ®ebulb     2111  bie  ©einen! 

gebfingt  unb  fpree^t:  2öcf)t  bcm  ®cfd)lcd)t,      D  @ctte^  ©tabt,     ©u  rcid)e  ©tabt, 

©ag  in  il)r  t)at  baö  ©ihgerrcdjt !  35ie  fold}en  ^errn  unb  Jlönig  l;at! 

I^ierauf  \)xdt  ber  Sefvetär  ber  9Iett):?)orfer  Sabbatf)=Committee,  ^vebiger  9?.  S. 
6  c  0  f ,  in  cnglifdf)cr  Bpxaäjc  eine  2lnfpra(f)e,  vm  ber  tok  Ijicx  nur  ben  |)an)3tinf)alt 
lüiebergeben. 

5»    5(n)>ra(^c  bc^  Sefrctnrö  bcr  8aI)batf)=(^ommittce. 

(Sine  innige  Wreube  erfüllte  mid),  alg  id)  eben  bcm  tanfcnbftimmigcn  ®efangc  (aufd)te, 
in  welrfiem  biefe  anfcl)ulid)e  SSerfammluug— bie  gvöRcfte,  bic  je  ju  ©unfieu  beö  ©abbatl)'« 
ger;alten  warb— iljrc  ©cfiible  funb  gab.    2d^  wiiiifri)tc  nur,  bag  alle  amerifanifd)cn  i^ljxu 


u 

fien  juf^ecjcn  fein  fcnutcn  itnb  fclbcr  fä()Cii,  wie  (jrc§  bie  3a(;I  ifjtcr  t>cutfcl)cn  Slitbünjcr 
ill,  bie  bcii  Sabbat!)  jvevtl)  unb  U)cuci-  ad^tcii  iinb  fcinc  (Svl^altung  fo  ciitfcljicbeii  bcgc()vcn! 
Hub  inecl)teii  ftc  and)  alle  bcii  lu^'lleii  bciitfd)cii  (»(^cralgcfaiui  crfd^allcu  l)ören  unb  »on  ben 
ScutfdH'n,  glcid'iric  mand)Ci5  5lnbevc,  fo  iuöbcfcnberc  baä  lernen,  vereint  mit  (Sincm 
S.iiuiiPe  ®ott  yt  lobfingen!  3d)  fü[)le  mid)  bacnrd)  nad)  1)entfd)lanb  jnriufuerfe^t,  wo  id) 
im  -Oovbft  1853  beni  Jlird)cntacj  in  53evlin  beiwo(;ntc.  (Sincn  tiefen  nnt»  er()ebcnben  (Sin  = 
brnif  mad>tc  ci  auf  mid),  al-J  iri)  bovt  bie  iierfammclte  Sliengc  »on  *prebigcrn  unb  S.'aicn  in 
ber  3?onifird)e  bie  Ocrrlirf)cn  beutfrf>cn  (Sbovale  fingen  f)ijrte,  unb  bcr  J^ijnig  nnb  bie  .ftöni: 
gin,ba5  ®efangbnc^  in  ber  -^anb,  barin  cinftimmten  gleid>  allen  Ucbtigcn.  3a,  fo  folltc 
c^  nller  Drtcn  fein! 

3d)  fiU)le  mid)  ber  mit  ?lnorbnnng  bicfer  Sßerfammlung  betrauten  (Sommittee  für  i^rc 
ßinlabung,  ()ier  eine  3lnfpvad)e  ju  ()alten,  ,yt  I)erilid)cm  ©anfe  verbunben.  ®a«  id),  ali 
«gefrctär  ber  (£abbatt)--(5ommittee,  vor  5tllem  au5^ufpred)en  nn'nifd)e,  ifi,  ba^  biefe  (lonu 
mittee  biud)auv<  uid)t  baraiif  aneigc[)t,  wie  man  in  gefiiffentiid)er  unb  bel)arrlid>cr  ä)Jit5bcu= 
tuiig  il)r  jnr  Sali  legt,  bie  reti  giijfe  ober  f  ird)lid)e  ?5cier  betJ  Sonntage  jii  cr.^iringnu 
Olein!  bie  mu§  bcm  ©ewiffen  eineiS  3cben,  feiner  eigenen  Ueberjcngung  unb  freien  ®al)l 
iiberlaffen  fein.  93lo^  bie  biirgerlid)e  "iseicr  bei3  Sonntag-^,  bie  9tul;e  von  5lrbeit  unb 
®efd)äft,  trad?tcn  wir  wicbert)cr^nftcllcn  unb  ,yi  bel)aupten. 

Sccr  unb  nid)tig  ifl  bafjer  all' ba5  ©cfc^rei  in  Seitungeii  unP  c'ffcntlid)en  $)teben,  alij 
feien  bie  9ieti9ionisfrci()eit  unb  bie  fonfiigen  9lcd)te  freier  iBiirgcr  beprol)t,  ali5  weibe  burd) 
bie  bcfte()enben  Sonntagi^gefcgc  ein  jiibifci)er  ober  furitanifd)er  ©abbatl)  eingefi'il)rt!  "Dajj 
nnfre  ®egner  felbfi  bieg  nid)t  glauben,  ge()t  cinj'S  bentlic^fte  cini  il)ter  gegenwihtignt  *1)C: 
tition  an  bie  cjcfe^igebenbe  ^-Öerfammlung  unfrei  Staatä  ()ervcr.  3)enn  was  forrern  fxe 
barin?  93lo§  bie  Jlbfdjaffung  bcrjenigen  ©efe^eebeftimmungen,  Weld)C  ben  SonntagtJbaus 
bei  mit  beraufd)enben  ©etränfen  nnb  bieSonntagsJtbeoter  »erbieten.  Sa  jeigt  ftd)'i5  alfo, 
bag  fie  nid)t  if)r  ©ewiffen,  fonbcrn  tl;ren  ©elbbeutcl  bcciutrad)tigt  glauben!  2)enn  ba^ 
im  Uebrigen  ber  Sonntag  fortbei7el)e,  ba|j  alle  fonftigen  (bewerbe  rul)en,  itt  if)nen  fd)oii 
ved)t :  nur  bajj  if)nen  ein  iöionopot  jugeftanben  wirb,  baii  ®elb  an^  bcn  2!af(^eu  ber  31tbei: 
tcr,  bie  gcrabe  an  bicfem  Xciqi  burdj  bcn  Sd)wciil  ber  29crf}e  gefiillt  ftub,  in  il)rcn  lücutel 
I)erüberjufd)affen. 

üllan  ()at  bie  3iif)t  ^cv  nntcrfd)riftcn,  bie  unter  ber  erivä()ntCH  petition  ftef)en,  auf 
25,000  auögcfc^rieen.  3lllcin  bie  3a()t,  welcl^e  in  ber  petition  felbfi  ale  angeblid)ei3 
Otefultat  ber  Sumniirung  ber  einzelnen  ^ogen  ftef)t,  itt  9,784.  9lod)  niel)r  fd):i>anb  bie 
3al)l  jufammen,  ale  man  fid)  bie  9Jtü()e  gab;  bie  nuterfd)riften  forgfältig  nad)y4äl)len : 
berfelben  fiii^  nämlid)  nur  7,703.  Unb  and)  von  biefer  3iil)l  fuib,  wie  id)  mid)  vcrfenlid) 
iiberjengt  l^abc,  mef)rmale  eine  Slicnge  von  9ianicn  mit  6'iner  <§anb  nnb  Giner  'Scbcc 
gcfd)rieben.  ©ei  881  biefer  9Janien  gab  id)  mir  bie  iWiibe,  fte  im  ^.Hbbrefjbnd)  nad)5ufd)la; 
neu:  61  bavon  waren  nnleebar,  601  waren  im  SlbDrcfjbud)  nid)t  ;^u  finbcn,  nnb  von  ben 
übrigen  219  waren  94  bie  DZamen  von  2l3irif)eii,  5Branntwcin()änblcrn,  (iigarrenl)änblern 
IC.  IC.  alfo  von  i!euten,  bie  if)r  pefuniärce  Sutcrcife  ju  biefem  Sri)rittc  treibt. 

3d)  fann  nhift  glauben,  bag  bie  Scgielatur  eine  '^sctition,  bie  einen  fo  fri)fcd)tcn  3wctf 
burd)  fo  fd)led)te  a}iittel  ju  eircid)en  fud)t,  berruffid)tigcn  wirb.  Hub  bae  um  fo  weniger, 
nie  bie  gegenwärtige  impofantc  ®egenbcmoiiüration  ben  fc^Iagenben  33cweie  liefert,  'ta$ 
nid)t  nur  bie  ganje  anglo:amcrifanifd)C  93c»['lfernng  (mit  2luenal;me  einer  unbePcntcnb 
Keinen  a)linorität),  fcnbern  anä)  ein  fefjt  groger  Xf)til  iinfcrer  beutfc^en  53ürger  fi'ir  bcn 
Sonntag  einfle()t. 


'^er  ^4]rebiger  %.  y)'f  a  u  f  rf)  e  n  b  u  f  cf) ,  früf)er  Siebaftor  bey  ,,?(merifanifdf)en  Sot= 
fd)aftcv»,"  gci^cniüärtig  '•^rcfeffor  am  t!)eo(cgifdf)en  Seminar  311  j){ccf)cfter,  %-'^., 
hielt  mmmchv  folgcnbe  ^)icbc,  mektcv  bie  i'evfanunUmg  mit  großer  3lu{racrtfamfeit, 
tei  faft  ununtcrbvcc^cucv  Stille,  laufdjte. 


15 


6.  Diebe  t)on  ^rofcffor  51  ^auf^cnlinf^, 
I. 

©eeljrte  2ln\Kfcntc!  Süä  id}  Ijcute  2(benb  mid)  6icf)cr  Begab  unb  ju  biefcm  3»cc!c  bit 
©trafen  euvec  SBeltfiabt  burci;wanberte,  wax  t6  mir  f)cd)eqrciilicf},  bie  (S.üUe  tvatjrjuiie^: 
men,  bic  ü&craU  unaltete.  93ov  ctUd)en  ^JÖven  teav  ba^  anberö:  ba  fa(;  mau  jaf)((cfe 
S'rir.fläben  unb  ©cl;enfen  cffen  flctien  unb  grc§e  Siienfc^ienmatJcn  auf  unb  uiebcvifcgen, 
grcjjcntfteil'J  auf  bcm  iSege  ju  biefcn  (Stätten  begriffen,  ^d)  übcrjcugte  miel)  alfc,  bag 
eine  genjattige  93eränberung  jum  *-Bcffem  bier  fiattgefunben  ^at,  unb  baju  uninfdjc  id) 
6"ud}  ücn  »^lerjcn  ©liicf  unb  rufe  cud)  ju:  ©a<J  i^r  errungen  f)abt,  baä  bel)aüet  unb  (apt 
c6  eud)  von  Dlicmanben  »iebcr  nebmen ! 

91(3  icb,  auf  beul  2Scge  ^ic()er,  an  baö  ©cräufd)  unb  ®etiirame(  bad}te,  baö  a((e  fed)ö 
Sßcrftage  binburd)  in  euren  i£tra§cu  bfrrfd)t,  am  (gcnntag  aber  biefer  frieblid)en,  feiere 
lid)cn  Stille  u>eid)en  muij,  ba  fpracl)  id)  bei  mir  felber :  ffialjrlid),  man  braud)t  nid^t  ein: 
ina(  (S^rift,  man  braudit  nur  iDienfd)  ju  fein,  um  ()ieoou  einen  »c()[tbätigen  (Sinbruit 
gu  empfangen  !  ©of)(  ift  berUnterne()mung'5geift,  ber  für  Jpanbel  unb  ©euunbe  ftettJ  neue 
SBege  furi)t  unb  bie  bercitiS  aufgefunbencn  fcrgfam  benu^t,  ein  uner(ä§lid}e3  (Srfcrbevnig 
jum  ®cbci()cn  eine-J  SSolfeö.  9lber  tvenn  ba'3  menfd}lid)e  Seben  nur  @efd}äftdlebeu  unc 
nid)tt?  5lnberet5  wiuc,  »ic  trcft(oö  iriube  eö  fid)  bann  gcfialten!  Ser  2)tenfc^  Uiiivbebauu 
JU  einer  Siafd)inc  »erben,  ber  ungcbt(betc  ju  einer  grabenben,  bacfenben,  bämmernben, 
flcpfenben — ber  gebilbctc  ju  einer  fd)rcibenben,  jäblcnben  unb  red)nenbcn  ä'iafriiiue! 
5llein,  be^  aJJcnfdjen  J^erj  unb  Sebcu  ()at  nod)  anbcre  Seiten  aUi  bie  DJeigung  ^ur  ®e: 
fd)äfte!t^ätigfeit.  Um  nur  eine  ju  nennen,  ba  ift  baö  53ebürfni|j  beä  j^^mi'licMtcben-J 
unb  bäu>?lid)en  ®(ücfecs.  Unb  »ann  fLMiute  ^t'ber,  aKermeift  aber  ber  Slvbeiter,  bic3  33e: 
bürfniü  jugleid)  fo  anbauerub  unb  fo  fd)ön  befriebigcu  al'3  am  Sonntag,  »o  er  ungcftiirt 
©tuuben  (ang  im  greife  ber  ©einigen  jubringen,  feine  Äinbcr  bilbcu  unb  erjic()ni  uni) 
jxd)  an  i()rer  Siebe  erfreuen  fanu!  <£old)e  Sreuben  fiub  aüerbingS  ftiüer  unb  ru()igeraliS 
bie  raufd)cnben  ißcrgnügungen,  burd)  bic  fo  iDiand)e  am  (Sonntag  bie  ®cfctäftönnrul)e  tet 
äDcrftagc  unterbred)en  mcd)ten.  Stbcr  »äbrcnb  raufd)enbe  93crgnügungen  am  (Sube  b(ctj 
aufregen  unb  anfirengen,  fcmit  nid)t  (Sr^olung,  fonbern  cr^ö()te  (Srfd)öpfung  ()evbeifii(): 
ren,  geiräbren  bic  füllen  greuben  beö  (^'intiiif^nlebens  einen  iiid)t  nur  reinen,  fonbern  aud) 
tiad)ba(tigen  ®cnuf,  beffen  w>o^ltbätigc  SBirfung  weit  in  bic  fctgenben  S^age  ()inüber 
reid)t.  @e»ig,  wenn  ein  |1i((er  (Sonntag  feine  auberen  guten  Sclgen  ()ätte,  als  bic,  bcn 
SOlenfdien  fid)  fclbfi  unb  bcn  (Seinigen  »icbcrjugcbcn,  fo  wäre  fd)cu  bag  ctwa3  ©ropcsJ 
unb  SSid)tigei5. 

Sluf  biefe  (Srfa'^ruiiggtl)atfa^c  geftülpt,  I)abc  tc^  mit  groger  3jerwunbcruug  gclefen,  bag 
bic  ®cgner  einer  fiid'en  Sonutagöfeier  in  bicfcr  (Stabt  baö  ©onutagiSgefe^  alß  ein  foldjcö 
augreifen,  tai  ,,.6unbcrttaufeubcn  von  fleigigen  2lrbeitern  bie  a)iittel  entjic^e,  ben  ein  = 
jigcn  Tag  ju  i^rer  (Srboluug  bcnu^en  ju  fönncn  unb  fic^  baburc^  neue  (Spannfraft  ju 
fed)ötägigcr  r)arter  Slrbeit  ju  boten."  aBa^rlid),  biefe  Scute  mfiJTen  eine  groge  innere  Sccre 
unb  einen  näg(td)cn  93cgriff  pon  ber  Üßürbc  bcö  2}Jcnfd)cn  babcu,  wenn  fte  fonfl  nid)tö 
Wijfeni  Woburd)  ber  9Jicnfd)  ficb  neue  (Spannfraft  f)clen  fann,  alö  5:runf,  j:anj  unb  (Spiel  i 
©a  ift  einer  ja  in  fietcr  9tbf)ängtgfeit  uon  fünjilid)cn  S)titte(n,  unb  lernt  nimmer  fc[bft= 
fiänbig  ju  werben  unb  in  feinem  eigenen  ^erjcn  unb  ^aufc  fid)  einen  greubengneli  ju 
fd)affcn,  JU  bcm  i^m  ber  Sugang  jeberjcit  offen  flebt! 

9lid)t  minber  befremblid)  finbe  ic^  cä,  bag-  biefe  ^errn  be()aupten,  in  ber  Slgitaticu 
gegen  bag  (Sonntag»5gcfe|  madjc  ber  beutfd)e  ®ciji  fid)  geltenb,  ber  ®eift  cincö  ilaut, 
gid)tc,  €d)iaer,  ®öt^e,  Scfjtng,  Berber,  ffiörnc  unb  ^cinc.  S«  oerrätf)  fd)cn  eine 
fc^leditc  Jlenntnig  ber  beutfd)cn  Sitcratur,  wenn  5emanb  ben  ebeln  Berber,  ber  fo  warm 
Pen  3cfu,  bem^ei(anb  ber  2)icnfcben,  gcrebet  ^at,  mit  bem  Ieid)tfertigcn  C">cinc  jufammen= 
fieden  fann,  wicwobl  felbft  ^eine  in  feinen  legten  Sebengjabren  auöbvücflid)  bem  i'an: 
t^cigmng  unb  JUbeigmug  abgcfagt  unb  fid)  ju  bem  ®lauben  an  einen  perfönlidKu  ®ott 
befannt  I)at.    Sod),  abgefe^en  r)ieocn,  etfläre  id)  ts  für  eine  ganj  falfd)e  Sluffauung  ber 


16 

©ciclDc,  ten  SüUHtag  aU  ctwaö  bem  beutfct;cn  ©ci)iütf;e,  bem  bciitfc^cn  SJolfsJlebcn  imb 
bcr  bcutfd;eu  iJitcvatuv  Si-embcö  anjufc(;cii.  3d;  »cvwcife  iiufeve  ©cgnet  auf  bic  [d)i?iic 
©tc((c  in  ®öt()e'ö  '^Mft,  wo  in  bcr  Dftevnadjt  ^au]!,  am  geben  »cvjweifetub;  fid)  ben  Zü'o 
geben  iviü,  ^.i(i?^(td)  aber  üom  Jtii-d)t()uvm  I;evab  ben  Dficrgefaiig  f^ovt,  fid)  auf  bic  friifjcrc 
gliicf(id)C  3cit  juvücfbcftnnt,  ba  er  ncd)  glauben  unb  fid)  freuen  fcnntc,  unb  (jicrauf  üou 
feinem  S3or^aben  ab|let)t.    Söic  crgrcifenb  fagt  (5aufi  ca : 

SBaä  fudjt  if^r,  mäd)tig  unb  gcltnb, 

3l)r  ^immelstöne,  niid)  am  Staube? 
klingt  bort  nmf)cr,  too  iveid)C  S)icnfd)cn  fuib! 

S)ie  ^otfrf)aft  I;ijr'  id)  n)of)(— allein  mir  fe^It  in  ©fauBc. 
2)aö  äBunber  Ol  beö  ©[aubcnö  lieb|leg.ftinb; 

3u  jenen  ©pflären  wag'  id)  r.id)t  ju  ftrcben, 
Unb  bod),  an  biefcn  Jtlang  inju  ^ugcnb  auf  getvij^nt^ 

Stuft  er  and)  je^t  gurücf  mic^  in  baö  l'eben. 
©onft  ilürjte  fid)  bcr  ^tmmclöltebe  JJuf 

9luf  mid)  f)erab  in  crnfter  ©abba  t  fjflil  t  c, 

Sa  flang  fo  af)nungt3v)of(  bcö  ©(ürfentoncö  %üHe, 
Unb  ein  ©ebet  ivar  brunftiger  ©cnupj 
6in  unbcgrciftid)  ()olbc3  <Se()ncn 

!£rieb  mid),bur(^  2öa(b  unb  SBiefen  l^iriiugei^n, 
Unb  unter  taufenb  ^ci^en  !£f)ränen 

giif}lt'  ic^  mir  eine  2Belt  ent|lel)n. 

(Sin  ganjeö  ®cbid)t  über  beu  (Sonntag  befigen  wlx  üon  a)iar  Von  ©c^cnfenborf,  bem 
mit  9led)t  gefeierten  93a(crlanb«:  unb  grci()eiti5:©änger,  ber  ben  großen  Jlam^jf  bcr  3ai)re 
1813  unb  1815  juglcid)  mit  @d)wert  unb  ©cfang  mitfäm^Htc.    !Daö  ©cbic^t  beginnt: 

©otteäßiKe,  ©onntagöfrü^e, 

Dlul^e,  bie  ber  ^err  gebot! 
SJeine  (Seete  wad)'  unb  gtüf)c 

Tlit  im  l)c((cn  SJiorgenrotO  ! 

Äönnt'  id)  in  bem  3immer  bleiben, 

SBenn  ba^  Sßolf  jur  Äird'C  wallt? 
Jtönnt'  id)  9llttagi5werfe  treiben, 

SBenn  bcr  ©locfenruf  crfd)allt? 

©oll  ic^  and)  noäj  beö  ,,<£c^äfcr3  ©onntag^licb"  öon  Ul)(anb,  bem  größten  je^t  tebens 
ben  bcHtfd)en  2)id)ter,  anfiiOren,  baö  aller  Drtcn  öon  (S'injelnen,  »te  »on  gaujen  Ärcifeu 
non  ©ängcrn  gefungen  wirb  ?  (S3  tautet : 

SJaö  ift  ber  STag  bcö  ^errn  ! 

3d)  bin  allein  auf  weiter  '^iux, 
9io^  (Sine  ©lorgenglocte  nur, 

Stun  ©tillc  nat)  unb  fern.  > 

Slnbetcnb  fnie'  id)  ^ier— 

D  fit^cö  ©raun,  gc()cimc3  SBeV«/ 
9ll6  {nieten  93ielc  ungefe^'* 

Unb  beteten  mit  mir ! 

JDcr  Fimmel  na^  unb  fern, 

(Sr  ift  fo  flar  unb  feierlid», 
©0  ganj  alö  wollt'  er  öffnen  Rd^- 

2)aö  ift  ber  Xac^  beä  'öerrn  ! 

Dlod^  einen  !Did)tcr  bcr  9leuicit  nenne  irt)  euc^,  ^^offmann  »on  gallcr^tcbcn!    3n  fcts 


17 

nem  anmut^tgcu  Siebe  ,,'^n  ©onntag  ifi  gcfommeH"  bef^reibt  n,  tote  bet  «Sonntag 
fegnenb  unü;erge§t : 

(Sr  flciget  auf  bie  93erge, 

©r  »anbcU  burd)  bag  Xi)cil, 
(Sr  (abet  juni  ©ebcte 

2)te  SWenfcljen  odjumal. 

Unb  tt)te  cr  9i((en  greubc 

Hub  gricbc  bringt  unb  Dlu^', 
@o  ruf  aud)  bu  nun  jebeni 

„®ütt  grü^'  bid)!"  freunblid)  ju. 

©0  jier^t  ftd)  bie  Siebe  jum  ©onntag  trie  ein  gotbncr  ^abcn  burc^  unfre  h)ett[id)eu 
Sid^ter.  9Sie  vielmehr  noc^  burd)  bie  g  e  i  ft  ( i  d;  e  n  Sieber  unb  burd)  baä  ganje  Scben  bes5 
beutfdjen  SSolfeö!  Sa^  ba^  S^reibcn  unfrer  ©cgncr  ein  und)riillid}C5  ift,  I)aben  ftc  fclbfi 
fein  -^e()(.    3d)  bcf)auptc  aber,  es  ill  and)  ein  unbeutfd)eö  S'rcibcn. 

SKan  »Lille  il)nen  mit  bcni  jtiftcn  ©onntag  ,, einen  d)rittHd)  anier  if  ant  f  d)cn  ®oit" 
aufjiringcn,  behaupten  nnfrc  ®cgncr.  3öa()rlic^,  id)  ij^bc  nid)t  erfi  in  Stmerifa  einen 
fitÜen  Sonntag  fcnnen  unb  lieben  gelernt,  fcnbem  fd}cn  at^  Äinb  in  meinem  ^ctmat^: 
Zi)<xl  im  beutfd)cn  2}atcrlanbe !  Unb  bed)  bin  id)  nid)t  etwa  in  einem  abgelegenen  ©crflein 
geboren  unb  erjcgen,  fonbern  in  jener  gcwerb:  unb  oolfreid)en  ©ebirg^gcgenb  im  füblid)cn 
3Bef}pf)a(en,  in  ber  (Sifenwaaven  unb  ®erät()C  aller  2lrt  gefertigt  unb  in  Sienge  fclbft  bi3 
^icl)er  t?crfanbt  irerben.  SBenn  id)  bcrt  bie  jat)llofen  6ifcnl)ämmer  unb  gabrifen,  nn-rin 
fonft  cen  ganjen  !l!ag  unb  jum  IJfieil  bie  ganje  Stacht  ^inburc^  fortnjäf)renb  gefd)micbet 
atnb  gef)ämmert  würbe,  cm  jebem  ©onntag,  ben  @ott  »erben  tie§,  ftill  ftef)cn  faf),  fo 
freute  id)  mic^  fd)cn  aU  Änabe  mit  bem  fd)trer  angeftrengtcn  5Ubeiter  ber  9bil)e,  bie  il)m 
biefer  IJag  gewährte.  Unb  wenn  id)  ©d)aaren  feftlid)  gcfleibeter^  frol)ev  SJienfdjen  am 
©onntag  jur  Äirc^e  jieOcn  fal),  bie  .^inbcr  an  ber  .§anb  ifjrer  93äter,  »on  benen  fte  eft  bie 
ganje  aCcd)e  ^inburd)  getrennt  ge»cfen  n?arcn,  fo  burd)brang  mid)  eine  tiefe  (Smpfinbung 
bar»on,  ba^  ©otteä  ©ebote  and)  unfer  irbifdjes?  Sebcn  nid)t  beengen,  fonbern  ernieitcrn  unb 
»erfd)öncrn,  ja  baß  bicfe  ©ebote  nid)t'5  »cflen  aii  unfer  eigenem  SBo^l  unb  ©liicf, 

5n  berfclben  3Beife  ^abe  id)  eine  ftille  ©onntagt^fcier  fpater  im  fd)önen  ©d)waben(anbe 
«nb  in  anberen  ©egenben  ®cutfd)lanbi3  angetroffen.  Unb  blicfe  ic^  in  bie  beutfd)e  ©cs 
fd^id)te  ^incin,  fo  finbe  id),  ba§  nid}t  nur  bie  ©itte  unfered  93olfe^  ben  Sag  beö  >§crrn 
fo  geeljrt  ^at,  fonbern  baf  and)  ©on  n  tagög  ef  e^e  jnm  2:f)ei[  mit  fef)r  firengcn  53es 
fiimmungen  in  35eutfd)[anb  beftanben  ^aben.  ©inb  biefelben  je§t  an  oielen  Orten  »ers 
f^rtunben,  fo  ift  baS  grogentlieiis  eine  ^I'l^t  be^  (äinbringenä  fr  anjö  fif  d)  en  ©inne3 
unb  SBefeng,  tt»obnrd)  ber  beutfc^en  ©itteneinfalt,  9leblid)fcit  unb  SSaterlanböliebe  ebcnfo 
fc^werer  Slbbrud)  gefc^e^en  ift  wie  ber  beutfd)en  ©otteöfurd)t  unb  ©onntaggfeier.  3n 
biefer  <&infid)t  muffen  wir  ©entf^e  unferm  ftammcerwanbten  9lad)baröolf,  ben  (Sngläns 
bem,  jebenfallö  be  n  33or,^ug  ^ngeftef)en,  bag  fie  mit  größerer  Scft'gff it,  ober  wenn  man 
will,  Säbigfeit,  bag  ©ute  bewahren,  wag  fte  einmal  baben.  2Bie  aber  baö  beutfd)e  33olf 
bag  itim  abl)anbcn  gefommcnc  altgermanifd)C  ^nftitut  ber,©d)Wurgeri^te  Wieber  einge; 
fiibrt  tiat,  bag  in  (Sngtanb  fid)  ftetö  erf)aiten  ^atte,  warum  füllten  nid)t  in  ä^n(id)er  SBeife 
wir  2)cntfd)e  »on  ben  (Snglaubern  unb  2lnglo:9lmerifanern  i()re  ©onntagggefe^e  I)erüber5 
ncbmen?  3)en  ©onntag  felbft  ^aben  wir  laugit  gehabt  unb  f)abcn  i^n  nie  uerlcren.  9Jnr 
bie  ©d)u^webr  um  ben  ©onntag  ber,  weld)e  biefe  gijttlidie  ®ahe  gegen  mcnfd)liri)e  ©ut; 
wei[)ung  ftd)ert,  'i^at  gefehlt.  !Dag  Sebiirfnifi,  ftc  ^u  erneuern,  füf)(t  man  gegenwärtig  in 
!Deutfd5lanb  fe^r  (ebfiaft.  9llg  id)  nad)  «ieljä^riger  9tbwefenbeit  im  »origcn  ©ommer 
mein  altcg  ißaterlanb  Wieberfa^,  war  eg  mir  eine  grcge  ^reube,  uon  allerlei  @inriri)tungen 
gn  :^örcn  unb  t^eilweifc  mid)  burd)  ben  9tugcnfd)ein  baocn  ju  iiberjeugcn,  bie  bcl)ufg  alU 
gemeinerer  unb  ftrengerer  ©cnntagg^eiltgung  getroffen  ftnb. 

II. 

Sod)  id)  wenbe  mid)  ju  einer  anbern  ©eitc  ber©onntaggfrage.    Tlan  i)at  mic^  crfud^t, 
»ornc^mtid)  ben  »on  meincnt  S5crrebner  bercitg  angebeutcten  Untcrfc^icb  jwif^en  btm 
2 


18 

bürgerlidjcn  imb  bcm  c(;rift  ( icl)e  ii  Sabbatf»  bavjulegen.  Sliefcn  Unterfdjieb  qt-- 
l)övig  jU  bey^riiiiDcn,  cvfdjciut  mit  in  bcv  XijAt  aU  fcl)i-  »id}tig.  T)cmi  uidjt  nur  wirb 
beiden  «on  unfern  ®cgncrn  fLn-tn.iä(;rcnb  «cnvcd^fclt  unb  in  %c[qc  bcffen  bic  Slnwcnbung 
i'cn  ®cu>iffcn^jwang  unö  jur  l'aft  gelegt;  fcnbern  c6  gicbt  and;  mandje  (5^ri|lcn,  bic,  biC: 
fen  Untcrfd)icb  oevfenncnt,  alle  gcnntagggefc^e  aii  bem  (Süangelium  njiberfireitcnb  be-- 
tradjtcn.    (£c(jn  wir  ju,  ob  ticm  wirfUc^  fo  ift! 

aßen  icf)cr  f)at  man  in  ber  (^viftlid;cn  ®[aubcnölcf)rc  jwifdjcn  bem  Slcic^  bcr  9Jatur  unb 
bcm  gicid)  ber  @nabe  untcrfd^ebcn.  53cibe  tlcljn  unter  bcr  f6niglid)cn  ^errfdjaft  ©cttcd 
in  6(;vi)1o ;  aber  im  9leid)  ber  91atur  »altct  [eine  5l(lmad)t,  2Bcief)cit  unb  ®ütc,  nur  im 
9teid)e  icr  ®nabe  offenbart  fid)  feine  erlbfenbc  l'iebc.  2)ic  (S^riflcu  get)örcn  beibcn  Sfleid;en 
an,  bem  SJicid)  ber  DJatur  in  ®emcinfd)aft  mit  allen  ällcnfrijen,  bem  JReid^e  ber®nabe  in 
(^olge  ber  SBiebergcburt  unb  im  93ercin  mit  anbern  SBicbergebornen. 

®tc  Drbnungcn  bicfcr  beiben  SJdeidje  fmb  ganj  unglcidjer  2lrt.  3)ie  bc3  Dlatuneidjeö 
fiammen  aug  unfcr  Silier  uvfprünglidjer  J^eimat^,  auä  (Seen  ()cr.  !Dcrt  gab  ber  €d;5pfct 
unfcrm  @efd)led;t  bie  Slufgabe,  bie  (Svbe  ju  bauen  nnb  ju  bc»af)ren  tinb  über  bic  Xijiin 
hJclt  ju  t)errfd;en.  Unb  biö  auf  bcn  (;eutigen  2:a3  i|t  bieö  beö  Slenfc^cn  Sooä  unb  93c= 
ftimmung,  nur  bag  fic^  feit  bcm  Sünbenfall  bic  nrfprunglid)  mit  Sufi  unb  S«ube  geübte 
S^ätigfeit  in  Sirbeit  unb  2)iüt;e,  oft  im  Sd^ioeig  bc«  5lngefidjtä  »errichtet,  i'crreanbelt  Ijat. 
Sbenfo  warb  bie  @^e  unb  bag  Familienleben  fd)cn  im  Unfdjulbö:  ober  Urjuflanbc  bet 
2'Jenfd)en  eingefe^t.  91od)  je^t  wie  bajumal  ift  baä  fficib  bcö  IfJanneö  ®eljülfin,  unb  baö 
alte  ®cttcön)ert  i|t  unoeränbert  in  Jlraft  geblieben  :  „"Darum  Wirb  ein  SJJann  Sater  unb 
S)hitter  üetlaffen  unb  an  feinem  ÜBeibe  Ijangen."  3n  gleidjer  QBeife  gefiört  nun  aud)  ber 
©abbat^  JU  ben  uranf  änglidjen  Orb  nung  cn  ®ottc3.  Sr  ftammt  nid}t  »oni  Sis 
nai,  fonbevn  aui  (Sben,  unb  warb  nid;t  für  bai5  33oIf  3ärael  allein,  fcnbern  für  bic  ganjc 
SJeufdjfieit  geftiftct,  aU  ®ott  am  ficbenten  S!agc  ruljete  oon  allen  ®crfeu,  bic  (Srgcmadjt 
ijattt. 

Slnber«  l)ingegen  »erhält  eö  fid)  mit  ben  Drbnnngenbcö  ®nabenrcid;3.  [I^idit 
v^cm  (Sdjijpfer,  fonbern  uom  Svlöfer  ber  Ü)knfd)l}cit  rül;ren  fic  f)er.  9Jid;t  (Sbcn,  fcnbern 
®olgatl)a  ijl  il;r  Slnögang^punft  unb  if)r  3iel.  3m  53licf  auf  baä  bort  gcbradjte  grogc 
Dpfcr  gebet  6[;ri)iuö  feinen  ^i'ingern,  ©inneöänbcrung  unb  9?ergebung  bcr  ©ünben  jn  prc; 
bigcn  unter  allen  33ölfern,  unb  fe^te  baö  d;riftlidje  *^>rebigtamt  ein,  ncbft  ber  ^eiligen  3:!anfc 
nnci  bcm  l)ciligeu  5tbenbma(;l.  9htr  für  biejcnigcn,  bic  3l)m  alä  i(;rcm  «§errn  unb  >§ei« 
lanb  anl}angen  wollen,  finb  bicfe  Dibnungcn  bcftimmt.  9hir  on  einem  53olf,  baö  3f}m 
willig  bient,  Ijat  (St^riftuä  SBo^lgcfalleu.  Unb  fo  oft  unb  fo  piel  aud)  unfre  ®cgncr  uni 
befd)ulbigcn,  atö  wollten  wir  bic  Scute  jum  >R'ird)cngcl)u  unb  jum  ßtjriftcntfium  überljaupt 
mit  ®cwalt  jwingen,  wir  rufen  if)ncn  entgegen  :  @ö  il"t  nid)t  wa(;r,  wa3  i^r  unö  nadjfagt! 
5tud)  wenn  wir  eö  föunten,  wollten  wir  baä  nid)t! 

©a«  (5l}riftcntl)um  f)at  jebod)  nidjt  blog  ganj  neue,  juüor  nie  bagchJCfenc  Drbnungen 
in'ö  tiben  gerufen :  ctS  l;at  juglcid)  jene  alten,  nranfanglidjen  Drbnungcn  ®ottc3  in  ocrs 
jüngter  ®cftalt,  in  neuer  ÜBeil^e  unb  "Büvbe  wicbcrbergcitellt.  2)ie  Qi)i  j.  fd.  war  bei  bcn 
mciften  2>öltern  eutweber  in  25iclweibcrei  ausgeartet,  ober  in  einem  wilbcn,  ungeorbnetcn, 
nad)  53eltcben  plö^lid)  gelijftcn.Sufammcnlcbcn  beibcr  ®efd)led)ter  untergegangen.  Sl^ri; 
jiuä  aber  fprad)  baö  grogeSBort:  „9Bai5  ®ott  jufammengefügt  tjat,  baö  füll  bcr  2)icnf(^ 
nic^t  fd)ciben!"  ©eine  3tpoftel  letjrten,  bic  djriftlidjc  (Sl)C  fei  ein  Slbbilb  bc5  93unbeä  jwi; 
fd}en  (St)viitu(5  unb  ber  ©emcinbc.  2)abnrd)  warb  bie  (Sl)e  aU  bleibenbe  3>eibiubungSine3 
2)lanneö  mit  (Sincm  2Beibc  auf  feflc  ©runblagcn  gefiellt,  unb  baiS  fdjncll  auffiammenbe, 
über  and)  fd)nel(  wicber  evlöfdjenbe  öJaturfeucr,  ba^  fonft  bic  (S(;cgatten  jufammcngefü(;rt, 
Warb  buvd)  bie  tcinc  ®lut^  bcr  d)rifilid;en  Siebe  geläutert  unb  geheiligt.  Sbenfo  war  ber 
Sabbatl)im  Jpeibentl;um  bcn  2)tcnfd)ctt  abf)anbengefommen.  9Bä()renbbei  bcn  alten  3361= 
fern  beö  ilUorgenlanbeS  fxd)  nod)  beutlidjc  ©puren  ber  SBcdjeneinttieilung  finben,  perfd;winben 
biefclbcn  in  fpätcrev3eit  mel)r  unb  mefir.  ©ad  ßljrittentl;um  aber  l)at  bicfer  alten  DJatur: 
Drbnung®ottei5  eine  neue  33ebeutung,  unb  bamit^ugleid)  neue  Sebcndfraft  gegeben.  (Sl)ri|tuiS 
^at  am  ficbenten  !fage  im  @rabe  geruf)t  unbitttiarauf  am  erjtcn  ijagc  aug  bcm  ®rabcwies 
bcr  auferf]anbcn.    3luf  ®runb  ^icocn  betradjtcten  bic  erficn  (5l)ri|icn,  nad;  2lnleitung  unb 


19 

•  - 

SScrgang  bcr  ?lvci^''^  i'CU  alttcilamcutticljcii  sgabbatf)  ciis  in  bcnncutcilamcnttidjcu  aufgfs 
gangen.  Statt  i'Ci  legten  2Iiod)cntagc^,  an  bcm  baö  ÜBerf  feev  gd^c^fung  »ollcnbet  \t>ar, 
feierten  fie  iiunnieljv  ecu  erfteii  2i!od)Ciitag  al6  bcii  SSoKenbungetag  bc^  nod;  gr»§ereu  aScc: 
fe^  bei-  ISvlcfung.  ©otteg  alte6  ©ebot,  oou  jc  fiebcn  3;ageii  einen  at«  Slduljetag  ;« 
feiern,  tritt  l;teburd)  lieber  in  Ära  ft,  bod)  jo,  t>a^  ber  Sdntjetag  nid}t  b(cf  jn  (ciblid)cr 
fUntje,  fonbern  aU  ber  !tag  beö  ^ecrn  juglcid)  jum  genieinfamen  d}riftlid;cn  ©ctteä. 
bte«i!e  angewenbet  roirb. 

3iüifd)cn  ben  Crbnungen  be3  ©nabenrcidjö  nnb  ben,  burd)  Sf^riflug  wiebct^ergeflcflteti 
uranfäng(id)en  Drbnungcn  ©otteö  beftefft  nun  ber  folgenbe,  wdji  ju  beadjtcnbe  Unterfri)ieb. 
3n  bag  ©nabenreid;  cinjugc^n,  Sfiriftt  SBort  im  ©lauben  anjunc^men,  SEaufe  uub  2l^enb« 
ma()I  feiner  Slbiid;t  unb  feinem  «Sinne  gcmiig  ju  feiern,  baju  cntfdjUe^en  fid)  bie  iKens 
fdieu  nur  fangfam  unb  nacfe  «ielcm  SBibcrflreben.  Saufdjen  ivir  unö  hierüber  nidjt! 
SBenn  e^  fic^  am  »uaftre  53ete^rung,  um  Eingebung  beö  -gierjenä  an  ben  -§ei(anb  Rubelt, 
fü  ()aben  wir  bie  a)Jef)r()eit  ntd)t  auf  unfrer  (Seite.  !Dagegcn  aber,  wenn  eö  fid)  barnm 
fianbelt,  cb  3lrbeit  unb  Sigent(}um,  cb  @^e  uub  Samitieulcben,  ob  ber  d)ri|lüd)C  (Sabbat^ 
unb  ©üttcäbienft  anerfannt  werben  uub  gelten  foK,  fo  begreift  bie  grofe  -DZe^rjat)!  ber 
SKenfdjen  balb,  bag  bicfe  @inrid)tungeu  t)öd)ft  wo()lt(;ätig,  ja  ju  einem  gebei^lid)en  33e: 
ftanbe  ber  menfc^lic^en  ©cfcdfc^aft  unentbe()rlid)  finb.  aßeuu  baber  bie  ©egner  be3 
S^riilent^ums  foweit  gc^u,  ba§  fie  ba^  (Sigcntfjum  in  {ommuniftifdjer  ober  foeialiftifd}ct 
23c(fe  auff)cben,  anfiatt  ber  @()e  bie  fogenaunte  „freie  Siebe"  unb  anftatt  beö  c^riftlic^en 
Slu^ctagg  einen  in  Wiijlem  ©inucnraufd)  uerlcbten  *5ergnüguugätag  cinfüf|rcn  Wodcn,  fo 
ftnb  bei  fold^em  ©treben  nid}t  wir,  fcnbern  [le  in  ber  aJMnberfjeit,  uub  aüt  i^re  barauf 
geriditctcn  5lufc^Iäge  werben  ftäglid)  ju  ©Chancen. 

9Benn  nun  bie  £)brigfcit,  ftd)  ftü^eub  auf  bie  widige  ?lnerfennuug  ber  iuxäj  iaS  S^ri« 
fientf;um  wieber^crgeftellten  Olatnrcrbnungcn  ©cttcö  feiten«  ber  großen  äRefirljcit  bct 
23rirger,  ben  Siuifdjen  unb  93eftrebuugen  ber  entfd}iebenen  %dn\>i  bcö  S^riftentr;umä 
entgegentritt  unb  für  bag  (5'igentf)um,  bie  <Sf)C  unb  ben  ©uuntag  einfielet,  fo  t()ut  fie  bal 
mit  »of(em  gutem  Weditc.  Uub  wenn  fie  un^  in  unfrer  (äigcnfdjaft  nid)t  al«  d)rif!lid)e  ©c« 
mcinbcgiicbcr,  fonbern  aU  d}riftlic^  gefiunte  Staatsbürger  veranlagt,  unfre  SBitlen^mcinung 
I)icrübcr  augjufpred^en,  fo  beben  wir  nic^t  nur  tai  ^cd)t,  fcubern  aud)  bie  *l>ji(td)t,  ücn  i(ir 
j^n  bcgcbren,  bag  nid)t  mubammebauifdje  ober  mornionifdie  Vielweiberei,  fonbern  bie  rijrijls 
Iid)e  @[)e,  nidit  ein  atljeiftifdjer  ©iiubeutag,  fonbern  ber  d)riftlid)e  ©cnntag  im  Sanbe 
aufrcd)t  crbalten  werbe  unb  gelte.  3Bie  gcfagt,  ben  ©cnutag  aid  ben  Sfag  beö  >§errn  ju 
feiern,  am  d)rirtlid)cn  ©ottei^bienfi  t^ciljuncl)meu  unb  baä  2Bort  ©otte^J  ,^u  betrad;ten,  baju 
foil  9]icmaub  ge,^wungen  w>crbcn.  2lber  bag  am  Sonntag  Slrbeit  unb  (Scwcrb,  kaufen  unb 
33erf.iufen,  ©cräufd)  unb  ©ctiimmet  aufl)öre  unb  3cber,  and)  ber  9leimfte  uub  ©eplagtcfle, 
®elegcnl)eit  i)aht,  fid)  ber  SRube  uub  (Srl)olung  ju  freuen,  fid)  einmal  wicber  ali^  JJcenfd), 
uub  nid)t  alä  2)lafd)inc  ju  füllen :  bai^  fi-tl  burd)gcfe|t  werben,  aud)  wenn  eö  ©old)en,  bie 
il)rcö  eignen  Üßol)leä  Seinbe  finb,  nid)t  gefällt. 

(Erläutern  wir  bie  <Baä)C  xnxxd)  einen  ual)e  iierwanbten  j^afl!  Äein  yerflänbigcr  (5t)rifl 
wirb  fein  Äinb  jwingcn,  im  Stilleu  im  Kämmerlein  ju  beten  ober  fid^  öffentlich  alg  ^iins 
ger  (Stjrifii  ju  benennen,  ©agegen  ad)tct  fic^  ein  (S^rifi  nac^  göttlidben  unb  menfcl^lid)eu 
©efe^en  uid)t  nur  beredjtigt,  fonbern  aud)  oevvtflid)tct,  fein  Äinb  jum  ©e^orfam  unb  jut 
Grfüllnng  feiner  fonfiigen  finblid)en  $flid}tcu  anju^alteu.  9Barum  t-T-Y  2)ai?  »^amis 
liculebcn  gcl)ört  ju  ben  5iaturerbnuugen  ©ctteö,  ©cbet  unb  d)riftlid)c3  93efenutuig  aber 
JU  ben  Drbnungen  beö  ®uabenretd)C!S.  S)ic  erftereu  muffen  nötl)igenfaflö  burd)  Slnwens 
bung  «on  3wang  aufrcd)t  erhalten  werben,  fcnft  tonnte  bie  2Belt  nid)t  befiet)n.  öei  ben 
Ie|tcren  bagegen  mug  ^reiwilligfcit  walten — 3wang  ifl  bem  innerfien  2ßefen  bcg  dfirifiens 
t^umö  juwiber!  (Sbcu  baffelbe  gilt  »on  bem  biirgcrtid)en  uub  d)rifltid)en  ©abbatf).  ©er 
©taat  !ann  feine  QBürger  anhalten,  ben  Sonntag  aU  bürgerlid)cn  Sftuljetag  ju  feiern. 
Db  unb  inwiefern  fie  il)u  aber  jum  ©otteiJbienft  anwenbcn  wollen,  bad  fiaben  fte  nid)t  mit 
ber  Dbrigfeit,  nod)  übertjaupt  mit  a)ienfd)en,  fonbern  allein  mit  ©ott  auöjumac^en;  ba3 
mug  bafjer  bem  ©cwiffen  einc3  ^tben  überlaffen  werben. 


20 


III. 


3cf)  wUi  jc^t  nod)  einige  Sefiaulptungen  unfcrer  ©cgnev  be(eu(f)tcn,  tie  fxe  in  ifjrcn  öor 
aä)t  Za^^ai  gefaxten  a3ci'd)lü(Ten  aufgefteUt  ^aben.  (ii  Ijcifjt  barin  nnter  Slnberm:  „9Bir 
fialteu  feil  an  bcm  ©cunbfaß,  bag,  wa6  fcct)6  Sage  in  bcr  äöcd^e  gcfe^lid)  i|l,  am  (Bonn- 
tag  nid;t  nngefe^tid)  fein  fann."  9Beil  baö  ©onntagggcfcl  biefem  ©runbfa^  juroibcvs 
läuft,  fo  ill  eä  „unüertväglid}  mit  bem  gefunbcn  2)lcnfd)enöerftanbe!"  S)aö  f)cigt  benn 
fveilid)  ben  SiJunb  red;t  «oll  gcnontmen.  *DJan  würbe  jtr^  bcinaf;e  fi'irc^ten,  einem  fD(d)cn 
*l}iad)tfpvud)  cntgegenjutrcten,  «ji'igte  man  nidjt  fc^on  längtl,  bag  gerabe  fo(d}e,  bie  fid}  für 
Snicinbcfi^er  bcö  gefunbcn  a)ienfd;eniievftanbeö  ausgeben,  oft  baö  ungefunbefte  unb  unüevs 
fiänbigfle  3eug  ju  S'age  förbern.  öefetjcn  tinr  nun  jenen  2}tad)tfprud)  ein  bii5d;en  nätjer, 
fo  läuft  er  auf  ben  @a^  (jinauö  :  ffia^  ju  einer  3eit  erlaubt  ift,  ifl  allejeit  erlaubt.  25aä 
ift  aber  gerabeju  falfd) !  (Sin  frolieö  a)iaf)l  aufteilen,  ift  nidjtö  llnrcdjteö;  iocnn  aber 
beineö  93ater3,  beineö  Sßcibeö  ober  Jlinbeö  8eid)e  über  ber  (Srbe  ftef)t,  fo  ift  c3  atlerbingö 
unred)t.  3u  ber  (Sl^e  ju  leben,  ift  nic^tiS  Unred)te3.  Slber  bem  ©runbfat^e  gemäg  ju  Ijans 
bcln  :  „2Da(5  nad;  ber  ^od^jeit  erlaubt  ift,  ift  andj  cor  ber  -^oc^jeit  erlaubt,"— baä  betrad)  = 
ten  wir  ßljriften  al8  t}öd}ft  üerwerftid).  Db  ^i)t  ^errn  es  ebenfo  bctrad;tet,  ift  mir  nid;t 
bcfannt! 

©od),  unferc  ©egner  fjaben  üielleidjt  bei  jener  SBel^au^jtnng  nid)t  bag  ©ittcngcfe^,  \vn: 
bcm  ba^  bürgertid)e  ®cfe^  im  5lnge,  nnb  meinen,  tvag  baö  festere  an  fcd)ö  STagen  nid)t 
»erbiete,  bürfe  cö  and)  am  ©onntagc  nid)t  »erbieten.  5lllein  and)  bicfc  93ef)auvtnng  ift 
falfd) !  !Dag  ber  5lrbeitgcbcr  feine  9lrbeitcr,  ber  fflJcifter  feine  ®el)ülfen  unb  Sel)rlingc 
fcrtiö  Stage  lang  bcfd)äftige,  foil  »om  ®efc^  nid)t  »erboten  nicrben..  2lber  tvo^in  würben 
wir  fommen,  wenn  baä  ®cfe^  ben  Strbcitgcbern  unb  aKciftern  geftattete,  ifire  Scute  and) 
am  (Sonntage  arbeiten  jn  laffen?  Söafirlid),  ba  Würbe  bie  >§abfud)t  ber  9teid)cn  gar  balb 
ben  Slrmcn  ein  Slrbcittijod)  aufbürben,  unter  bcffen  Saft  fte  nie  mel)r  frei  aufat^mcu  fönus 
ten,  unb  am  (änbe  »odig  erlägen! 

£öaö  aber  bcm  (äinen  rcd)t  ift,  bag  ift  bem  Slnbern  billig.  Sl^ono^ole  bürfen,  wie  mein 
aSorrebuer  bereite  bemertte,  nid)t  geftattet  werben,  am  allerwenigften  in  einer  Sflcpublif. 
©arf  bcr  53eft^er  einesJ  Siergartenö  am  ©onntag  fein  ©ewerbe  treiben,  fo  nimmt  bcr 
öranntweinbänbler,  bcr  (5igarrcnl)änbler,  fo  netjmen  ()unbcrt  anberc  .^änbler  baffelbc 
fdilimmc  QSorredit  in  9lnf»rud),  nnb  bcr  9luf)etag  mit  all  feinem  (gegen  ift  bal)tn! 

(Statt  auf  (Suren  ,, gefunbcn"  a)lenfd)cnücrftanb  ju  :pod)en,  l)ättet  3f)c  -^crrn  wol)fge=! 
ifjan,  anß  ber  33ibct  ein  wenig  5)3elcl)vung  anäunel)men.  3)115.31  i()r  fte  nid)t  »on  (Sltriftuö 
unb  feinen  5l»oftcln  tjolcu,  fo  fönnt  il)r  fd)on  »om  Weifen  (Salomo  lernen;  „(5'in  3cglid)C3 
:^at  feine  Seit— 2Öcincn,  8ad)en— ©d)Weigen,  SHeben  ijat  feine  3cit."  Itnb  fo  :^at  and) 
Slvbeiten  feine  Seit  unb  3{nl)cn  feine  3cit.  Itnb  wann  es  3eit  fei,  einen  ganjen  J^ag  ju 
tul)cn,  fagt  baö  »ierte  ®cbot. 

(£cl)n  wir  je|,t  aud),  wie  unferc  ®egner  mit  ber  SEcItgcf  d)  id)te  umgcfecs !  3n 
ifircn  95efd}lüiTen  00m  »origcn  ©onntag  bef)auvtcn  fie,  bag  ,,bic  crleud}teteu  ffiölfer  aller 
3citen  bcu  wol)ltl)ätigcn  (Sinftug  ber  mimifd):plaftifd)cn  .Knnft  ju  fd)äl}en  Wugtcn,  wegs 
I)alb  bie  alten  Dlcpublifen  Sftom  unb  ®ried)enlanb  fte  and)  »on  ©taatöwegcn  bcm  aSolfc 
gngängliri)  machten."  aiSabrlid),  ba  ()(?rcn  wir  etwa«  y^cueö !  Sag  erleud)tctc  93ijlfcr 
bad  Sübeatcr  alg  eine  <Sd)ule  beö  fiaftcr  3  angefcl)en  I)aben,  ift  mir  wol)lbcfannt ;  bag 
il)m  aber  ein  wof)ltl)ätiger,  „ftttlid)  ^cbcn^er"  (Sinflug  »on  ben  „crleud)tctcn  5Bölfcrn 
aller  Seiten"  jngefdjricben  fei,  I)örc  id)  jc^t  erft.  aBol)lan,  3l)r  Iterrn,  wir  bitten  um 
Slufflärung.  93clel)rt  unö  bod)  gefälligft,  in  (Suren  Seitungen  ober  in  ben  Sieben,  bie 
31)r  näd)ftcnö  wieber  l)atten  werbet,  wer  bicfe  crleud)tetcn  93i.ilfer  waren.  «So  uicl  weig 
id)  wot)l,  bie  33ürgcr  ber  alten  niepubtif  JRom  gc^^örten  nid)t  mit  baju.  ®cfc|t  audi.  Wir 
Wollten  fie  mit  (Suc^  als  ein  crlcud)tcteg  93olf  anerfennen,  fo  Ratten  fte  bod)  feine  »on 
(Staat«  wegen  iljncn  jugänglid)  gcmad)te  S^beatcr.  2Bol)l  gab  (S  in  JKlom  eine  Seit,  ba 
ber  $Ruf:  "  Panem  et  Circenses!"  (@ieb  uu3  S3rob  nnb  (Spiele  im  ßircug!)  bie  cin,^igc 
unb  ftete  (^orbcrung  beg  römifd)en  ^l^öbelg  an  feine  5!'}Iad)tl)aber  war.  Slber  ju  ber  Seit 
war  9lom  tängft  nur  noc^  bcm  ?iamen  nad)  eine  Ülcpublif  unb  cS  bauerte  nid)t  lange  mef)r, 


21 

ba  üctUu-  Ci5  aud)  ben  5tamcu.    55ic  alten  repub(ifanifd}en  9iömer  l)ingcgcn,  bcren  SSiit: 
gcitugcnben  wix  mit  ?}tcd}t  benjunbcvn,  üerabfdjeutcn  bai?  .tfieater. 

SBaiS  ba5  a(tc  ®ricd)cnlanb  betrifft,  fo  iuurbcn  bort  cbenfaUö  crft  unter  *^.^el•if(e(5,  aid 
bic  (SittenücvbcvbniB  anfini^  unb  bei-  ffliirgcvftnu  a6naf)ni,  bic  Äiiftcn  bct  S^tjcatcu  ani 
Staatöuiitteln  bejaf)lt.  S)ec()  tvar  felb|l  bamatö  nod)  fü  oiet  ®efüf;(  für  3ud}t  unb  «Sitte 
unter  ben  ®ried}en,  bap  fic  jwarSdjaufpieter  fjatteu,  aber  feine  ©d)  auf  p  icler  i  nn  en. 
©üld)e  Sf}cater,  ivic  l)ier  in  9leW:ä)orf  am  ©onntag  cffen  ftanbcn,  Worin  f)albiuifftc 
aiJeibcr  tun-  ben  2(ugen  Der  iPiänner  alle  3nd)t  unb  Scfaani  bti  (Seite  festen,  luo  Ströme 
beraufd}cnbcr  ©etranfe  ncbtl  iJabafiJbampf  unb  einer  auf'ö  äujjerfte  werpefteten  unb  pers 
gifteten  Suft  jugleid)  ben  Äorper  unb  ben  ©eift  entftäfteten — ()at  feine,  fei'ö  ri)rifi= 
Iid)e  ober  f)eibnifd}e  Diepublif,  ja  fein  93olf,  in  bcm  nod)  ein  ioenig  gcfuuber  Sinn  icar, 
für  lr>ct)ltl)ätig  erfannt) 

Sd)lie^Ud)  nod)  ein  9Bort  an  unfre  ©egner.  3d)  i)dhc  eud)  Porl)iu  gefagt,  toaö  i»ir 
iü ollen,  ndmlid)  blog,  bag  il)r  ben  Sonntag  at3  bitrgerlid)en  3iluf)ctag  feiert;  ju  feiner 
religiöfen  ober  fird)lid)en  gcier  inoKtcu  wir  eud)  nid)t  jtt5ingeu,  felbft  wenn  wir  eä  fcnu; 
ten.  -äöaö  Sfjr  wo  l  It,  will  id)  (Sud)  je^t  aud)  fagen.  3f)c  felbft  fagt  cg  nid)t,  bod) 
beutet  3l)r  es?  an,  inbem  3[)r  riU)menb  erwähnt,  ba§  in  SRom  unb  ®ried)enlanb  bcr  Staat 
bic  Soften  bcr  Sd)aufpiele  bejat)lt  t)abc.  (Sin  ®lcid)C!S  möd)tet  3l)f  gar  gern  and)  t)ier 
einfiil)ren.  äDä^rcnb  Wir  nid)t  barau  benfen,  Sud)  jur  (Srl)altnug  unfcrer  Äirdicn  ju 
nijtl)igen,  wiirbct  S()V,  wenn  3l)r  eö  nur  fönntet,  unö  jwingen,  Sure  !J'l)cater  mitjubejal): 
len  unb  wol)l  gar  am  Sonntag,  and)  gegen  unfern  aBilleu,  I)ineinjugebcn.  35en  j^orts 
fd)ritt  fül)rt  ^ijx:  im  Sliunbe,  aber  9liicffd)ri tt  ift  euer  Streben.  3a,  bii3  iu'i?  .&eibentl)unt 
jurücf  würbet  3f}r  uns?  fül)ren,  wenn  cä  nad)  (Snvem  Sinne  ginge,  unb  jwar  nid)t  in  ba3 
^cibeutt)um  ber  alten  @ried)cn  unb  Dlömer,  fonbern  in  ein  nod)  Piel  finflercrc^  unb  fd)aucr: 
lid)creö,  in  ein  pantl)eiftifd}ei3  unb  atf)eiftifd)Cö  .gieibcutl)um.  (Sincr  eurer  Diebner  am 
porigen  (Sonntag  l)at  erflärt:  ,,2Öir  crfcnnen  feinen  anberu  ®ott  über  unä  an,  aU  ben 
®ott  bcr  ^srei^eit  unb  ben  ewig  fd)affenbcn  a)tcnfd)cngeifl!"  S)icfe  (ärflärung  ifi  offenbar 
glcid}bebentenb  mit  bcr  Cofung,  bie  Wir  fo  oft  au^  eurem  Slhinbe  iicrnommeu  l)aben: 
,,3Bir  crfenncu  feinen  anbcrn  ®ott  an,  alä  bcr  in  unfrer  93rufi  WDt)nt!"  SBurbe  je  bie« 
fcr  in  Sud)  Wof)ncnbe  ®ott  jur  ■Oerrfd)aft  fommcn,  fo  würbe  eö  fid)  jcigcn,  ba§  er  ärger 
unb  blutbürftiger  ift  aliS  bcr  f)cibuifd)e  ®ö^c  *l)iolod)!  ©cnu  ein  ru[;elofer,  fricblofer, 
licblofer,  f)affcnber  ®ei)l  ift'^,  ber  Sud)  erfüllt,  ein  ®eift,  ber  allein  Sftcd)t  l)abcn  unb 
ntd)ti3  bulbcn  will,  ba-J  il)m  wibcrfprid)t !  9lllermcift  aber  ba^t  biefer  ®ott,  ber  in  Snc^ 
Wof)nt,  baö  Sf)riftcntl)um  unb  bic  Sl)rij^en,  unb  wenn  er  fönute.  Wie  er  Wollte,  fo  würbe 
(5t)riftcublut  l)icr  im  8anbe  in  Strömen  fliegen ! — 

S)üd),  @ott  bat  bieg  8anb  Pou  3lnfang  bcr  ju  einer  fiebern  3itflnd^töjlätte  ber  in  bcr 
alten  SBcU  pcrfclgten  unb  unterbrüeftcn  ßl)rifJen  gewcil)t.  !l)ie  ^J^uritauer  auö  Suglaub 
unb  Sd)ottlanb,  bic  >&ugcnctten  au»5  (^i'anfrcid),  bie  pfäl^ifrbcn  2)Jcnucniten  unb  bie 
(Safjburgcr  Sutbcrancr  auö  2)eutfri)fanb  famen  fjieljicr,  nid)t  um  ju  glauben  unb  ju  tl)nn, 
waä  fic  gelüftete,  fonbern  um  ®ott  anjubeten  nad)  93orfd)rift  ibrcö  ©cwiffcuö. 
Staat  unb  ^ird)e  finb  allerbingg  bei  unä  weielid)  unb  f)eilfam  gefd)icbcn.  3lber  <Btaat 
unb  Sfiriflcnt^nm  finb  nid)t  gefc^ieben.  3ebe  d)rifilid!e  üleligionepartci,  baju  oud)  bic 
iübifd)e  SHeligion,  finbct  ^ier  Scfju^  unb  Slncrfcnnung ;  eure  3r  religion  aber  wirb 
böd)fleng  gebutbet,  unb  and)  bag  nur,  wenn  fic  fid)  nid}t  breit  mad}t,  fonbern  bucft. 
©arnnt  nebmt  guten  9latf)  an,  unb  alß  pernünftigc  Seute,  bie  fid)  nid)t  gern  jwccflofc  unb 
rcrgcblid}e  ä>lübe  mad)cn,  fd)icft  Sud)  ruf)ig  in  bic  ycrf)aftcn  ©ountagögcfct^c;  bcunweg« 
fd)affen  werbet  3f)r  fic  bocl)  nid)t! 

Sucb  aber,  meine  d)ri)tlid)cn  ä)Zitbrüber,  lege  id)  bt  Sitte  an'ö  ^erj:  inbem  ibr  bie 
ändere  (Sd)u§wcf)r  um  ben  Sonntag  wafirt  unb  Vffegt,  trad)tct  i?or9lllcm  nad)  bem  wcfcnt^ 
liri;en  ®utc,  baö  in  i()r  i^crgung  unb  Sid)cr()eit  finbet,  nad)  bcr  9inl)e  bcr  Seele  in 
@ott!  !i)ic  lagt  nnö  fud)cn  an  jcb  cm  Sonntage  neu  ju  cmpfin^en  unb  jugcnicfjen; 
mit  ibr  Wollen  Wir  faibjcitig  unfcrc  jlinbcr  befannt  unb  pertraut  mad)en;  jn  il)r  woücn 
wir  aud)  Slnbcrc,  bic  um  uuc  finb,  burd;  Scl)ve  unb  Scifpict  l)iu^utciten  trad)ten,  2)a,^u 
f)clfc  un^  ®ott ! 


22 

7.  ^ie  ^cfc^Iiiffc. 

S)er  $Porfi^er  legte  jc^t  bcr  2?erfaminlung  folgenbe  SSefc^lüffe  jur  2(nnal;me  »A: 

53  e  fd)  I  offen  :  SDag  bie  9lcri)te  too  Slvbciterö  auf  einen  »ödjentlic^en  Siag  bee  Jflu^f, 
tier(S(;ri)len  auf  einen  !Jag  t>ec  (Sibauung,  nnb  aller  33iivgcv  auf  regelmäßig  wicbevtel)renl>e 
Sreiljcit  »on  ®cfd)äften,  ©mge  unb  ©eräufct),  wie  fteburc^  bic  ®efe$e  unferc^  Saubeei  ge« 
ftci)ert  finb,  ju  ben  foftbarften  unb  uuüeväujjerlidjen  9ted)teu  freier  43ürgcr  gehören  ;  unb 
ba§  jebcr  Slngriff  barauf,  bcr  ben  Jag  bcr  9iu()e  in  einen  lag  bci5  ®efd}äftiS,  ber  Scrftreuj 
iing  nnb  3ud)tlcfigfctt  »erfeftren  und,  barauf  I)inauöläuft,  ben  Slrbeitcr  ju  bcbrüctcn,  bie 
öffcnttid^e  unb  verföuUd^e  (Bitte  ju  V'crbeiben,  bic  ©infüiiffe  ber  SUeügion  ju  fc^wädjen  un^ 
alle  freien  3iiftituticncn  ju  untergraben. 

^efri)toffeu:  SSaßwir  bedlialb  em)l(id)  gegen  bie  3lbfd)affung  ber  je^t  befiefjenben 
©efcl^e  i)rütcftircu;  iveld;e  ben  bürgcrlid^en  ©onntag  gegen  bie  gefdl^rli^ften  formen  of« 
fentlid;er  (SutfittUd;ung,  gegen  ben  SJerfauf  geiiliget  ©cttänfc  unb  bic  5öter9artcn52:i)eatct 
fd;ii^en. 

93efdjlef  f  en:  ©ap  bie  53eamten  bicfer  93erfammlungl)iermit  erfut^t  werben,  bie oor« 
Pef)cnben  55efd;liif|e  ber  SegiiUatnr  nnfercö  Staatö,  alo  bie  bellimmte  äßiüenömeinungbcr 
orbnungöliebenben  bcutfd^en  53eüi?lferung  unfrer  @tabt,  tjorjulcgcn. 

Sa  biefe  Sefd^Uiffe  oiic^  in  bcm  "ilJrcgramm  ftanben,  bay  in  al(et  Slnmefenben  .fiän= 
kenirar,  foljatte  jeber  {)inrei($ienbe  ©elegcnl^eit  gel;abt,  fid}  mit  i[)nen  befannt  äumoi 
(i)en*  2JII»  balder  ber  3>orfil^er  biejenigen,  bie  mit  ben  $iefd}lüffen  cinüerftanben  feien, 
cufforberte,  fic^i^on  it)ren  Sihen  gu  ergeben,  unb  aU  fid?  tjierauf  bie  ganje  5>erfamm' 
hing  erfjob,  Jt»u^te  fie  fel^r  mofjl,  iDa!§  fie  tljat.  5)effen ungead)tet bcmfifjten 
fid)  bie  wenigen  anmefenbcn  ©egner,  bie  iüäf)renb  ber  ganzen  S>erl;anb(ungcn  ftet» 
Sinlafj  nnb  ®etegent)eit  ^u  Sti3r«ngen  gefud)t  l)atten,  nud}  jeljt  am  8d;luffe  ncd)  fic^ 
geltenb  ju  madden. 

Sie  begannen  ein  föcmurmel  unb  ©erebe,  also  feien  feljr  3>iele  mit  ben  53ef(^tüffcn 
nic^t  einüerftanben,  allein  man  wolle  biefe  nicbt  ju  SBorte  fcmmcn  laffen.  ^nbefs — 
ber  SSorfi^er  trat  tpieber  üor  unb  fcrberte  rul^ig  bie  ben  95efc^lftffen  mdjt  23eiftim= 
mcnbcn  auf,  fid^  ju  erl^eben.  Unb  fiel;e !  blo^  Gin  2Hann  erl;cb  fic^,  unb  auä)  ber 
fefete  fid>  fc^nctl  nieber,  al»  er  fid^i  fo  atleinftel^enb  fanb.  .^atte  juöot  ber  SSorfi^er 
Steu^erungen  be^  ^Beifall»,  al^  in  einer  c^iriftlidien  2>crfammhmg  ungeeignet,  abgU; 
hjeljren  gefud^t,  fo  mar  bic'g  je^it  nic^it  meljr  mü-glid}.  ©in  allgemeiner  ^utel  entftanb, 
oly  CiS  fid>  jeigte,  bafj  bie  ungel;eure  2Reif?rt)eit  bcr  9serfammlung  mit  ben  93efd}lüffen 
einoerftanben  war  unb  ba^  bie  wenigen  ©egncr,  tro^  iljrer  geriil^mten  greil^eitcUiebe 
unb  Ueber3eugung!§treue,  nid)t  ben  D}Iutl?  I;atten,  offen  für  iljre  Ueberjeugung  cinju^ 
ftefjn.f 

*  3n  ben  ajtrfnmmlunijtn  ter  Seinbe  txi  Sonntag«  vflegt  eS  iimgcfc^vt  ^erjugtJ^n.  ©Ueiilangt 
»efitlüffe  werten  kort  t>rtlefcn,  rocrin  alle  möglidje  v^itofopl^ifdjc,  foci-Ue  unt  potitifAe  Srageu  abge= 
l^antelt  werten,  unb  wenngleich  nur  20enige,  bie  ganj  In  ber  Ü/i.i^e  fiften  unb  furgfättig  aufmerfcn, 
Älleä  \)erftanben  ^aben,  wirb  bo*  c^ne  SBeitereä  bie  3»flimmung  ber  ganjen  l'ikvfammlung  begcfjtt.  2lud) 
fin  Sßröbc^en  »on  ber  9l(^fung,  bie  in  biefeu  Ärcifcn  ber  vcrfönlidjen  freien  Uevcrjeugung  gejoHt  wirb  ! 

t  I>ie  cnglift^e  3eitfc^rift  "New- York  Observer"  fagt  in  i^vein  39erid>t  über  bie  aScrfammtung  : 
„Die  Scene  bei  Sluna^me  bcr  Sfefcfrlnjfe  war  •oon  \)iM  evgrcifenter  Slrt.  9U«  ber  iBinfi^er  bie  bamit 
ßinvcrfianbenen  jum  5lufjte(;ii  aufforberte,  fianbcu  bie  vcrfamnieltcn  ^laufenbe  auf  wießrin  älfann.  ?U» 
er  fic^  bann  auc^  an  tie  Slic^teinuerfianbenen  wantte,  blicften  ficf/  ?Ule um,  begierig  ju  fef)en,  wie  »iel  ®eg= 
ner  ba  feien.  Slber  nur  ©in  3Mti»ibuum  ^inten  im  ©aal  flanb  auf,  bereiinige  Opponent!  Diefe  ©in= 
Jiimmlgteit  erfüllte  bie  aSerfammhing  mit  einem  ®iegeeigefü(;l,  weldfeeä  fi*  in  fo  an^attenbem  S3elfatt= 
tufen  Suft  ma^te,  bap  SJIiemanb  keffen  iStbeutung  nÜBvcrftcl^en  tonnte."— ßbcnfo  tie  rolltifc^e  .W= 
tung  "The  World" :  „!Die  2lr.na^me  ber  Jöefi^lüffe  »on  Seiten  bet  aJerfammlung  war  eine  elnjiim« 
wije  un>  nad^brürfüc^e  (em^mifdjt)." 


23 

2ltl  ttjieber  StiHe  eintrat,  erl^cb  fic^  ber  ^rebiger  'iR.  S.  §it(i)co(!,  2)rctor  ber 
S:^eclcgte  unb  ^rofeffcr  am  ttjeolcgifdjen  llnicn: Seminar  3U  3lm-f)cxt,  urn  eine 
furje  ©c^Iu^=2tnfpra(i;e  ju  {»alten.  6»  gefc^a^  bie^  in  fo  freunblid^er  2ßei[e,  anfangt 
in  beutfd^er,  bann  in  englifc^er  Spradje,  ba^  bie  SSerfammlung,  obgleich  fie  fc^on  üie( 
Qc^bit  l)atte,  ibm  nod)  bereitnjiUig  taä  O^r  liel;. 


8.    ©^(ujJ=Wnf|jra(^c  Don  ^^rof.  Dr.  §lt(^col 

SDicinc  grcunbe!  *)Srcfeffot  !J()clucf  in  ^af(c  fcagte  mi^  cinfi:  „können  ©ic  mit 
fagen,  njc^l^alb  ®ott  fo  oictc  Sl^inefcn  unb  fo  tvcnig  *l5vcu§en  gefcl^affcn  (;at'?"  SBcnn 
*)3rcfcffüv  3:f)otu({  I)cut'  Slbenb  f)iet  wave,  fo  tttihbe  cr  finben,  baf  ®ctt  cine  l;ü6frf)e  Sins 
•ja^l  !Dcutfd)e  t»ierf)er  gcbvadjt  ijat.  5ilö  fold)e  begrübe  id)  (Sud).  3f>t  fcit)  2)eulfd)e,  ein 
$■1)611  Don  (Sud)  finb®ad)fen;  wir  finb  9tngelfad)fen.  SBir  ftnb  von  (Sincm  ©tantm. 
2)er  Unteifd)icb  ift  blop,  bag  >t»ir  ein  biödjen  frii()ei-  ()ie()cr  getommcn  finb.  3f)r  famct  ge» 
rabcircg'ji  fibers  iDJeer  hierher.  9Bir  {)ic(tcn  un3  cine  3Bcilc  i*  (Sngtanb  auf,  nad)  nnferet 
SJJcinung  ntd)t  or)ne  SSortfieil  für  nnö,  inbcm  wit  bort  ä)Jand)C(5  lernten. 

!Der  Seutfdje  fouiol)l  alö  ber  9lngelfad)fe  liebt  bie  ^veitjeit,  wie  ber  Slbler  feine  %iU'- 
tliVVe.  Slbcr  cä  ifi  nöt^ig  tt?o^t  ju,jufef)n,  waö  grei^eit  fei.  SBenn  Semanb  blof  feine 
9led)tc  fennt  unb  nid)taud)  feine  ^flid)ten,  fo  ift  baäein  fläglid)  ©ing.  ^rcilieit  unb 
(Sefc§  miijfcn  ^anb  in  ^anb  gcl)en.  SBenn  bie  (Sentrifugalfraft  ber  grei^eit  unb  bie 
(Scntvipetalfraft  be3  ©efe^eö  gleid)niägig  auf  unö  einwirfen,  fo  bctttegen  wir  unö,  glei^ 
nnfrer  SJiuttcr  @rbe,  in  einem  lid)ten,  wol)ltl)dtigcn  .Rreiölauf. 

®ie  Scute,  bie  ein  grop  ®efd)rei  fon  ber  Sreil)cit  mad)cn,  ct)ne  2ld)tung  ocr  bem  (55cfe| 
gelernt  ju  l}aben,  fcnnen  bie  angclfäd)fifd)e  ?5reil)eit  noc^  nic^t;  benn  iai  ifl  eine  burc^ 
@efc^  georbnete  <5rcil)eit.  3Bir  fagen  ju  benjenigcn,  bie  in  unfer  Sanb  einwanbcrn :  bie 
greibeit,  53öfe^  ju  ttjun,  ifi  nid)t  ^lei^eit,  fonbern  Sflaiu'rci.  2)aö  ift  unfer  amcrifani: 
fe^er  93cgriff  »on  gret^eit,  für  ben  wir  nid)t  burd)  3waug,  fonbern  burd)  Ueberjeugung 
Sllle  gewinnen  möd)ten.  SBir  wollen  bie  Srei^eit  l)abcn,  9led)t  ju  tl)un,  aber  nid)t  bie 
grcibeit,  Unred)t  ju  tl)un. 

9Bir  finb  Ülcrniblifaner.  2öir  l)aben  bieg  8anb  unb  feine  freien  5nfiitutionen  ttcu  uu; 
fern  SSitern  überfommcn,  unb  wir  finb  SöilleuiJ,  unfcrc  ^rei^eit  jn  bewat)ren.  Die  ÜBelt= 
gefd)id)te  fagt  unö,  bag  tjon  allen  93erfafiunggformcn  bie  republifanifc^e  am  fd)werften  ju 
gewinnen  unb  am  leid)teilcn  ju  tjerlicrcn  if^.  9tevnblifen  finb  in  ber  Siegel  nid)t  alt  ge: 
werben,  wäf^renb  befpotifd)e  unb  fclbft  tDraunifd)e  Sftegierungen  oft  ein  langeö  S)afein 
frifletcn.  9Botlen  wir  alfo  giepublitaner  bleiben,  fo  muffen  wir  wad)fam  unb  rül)rig  fein. 
?lnf  ben  ©abbatf»  gilt'^  ganj  fonberlid)  unfer  2tugenmer!  ju  rid)ten.  2öir  bebaupten 
jwar  nir^t,  bag,  wenn  wir  iljn  aufred)t  tialten,  baburd)  unfere  Sreil)eit  gefiebert  fei.  SBo^l 
aber  bc^aujjten  wir,  bag,  wenn  wir  ben  ©abbat^  mit  Sügen  treten,  unfere  Sreil)eit  un3 
genommen  werben  wirb. 

@iu  gütiger  (Sjott  giebt  un3  ien©onntag.  35er  2!eufel  möd^tc  barauö  gern  einen 
®ün  bentag  mad)en,  ber  in  niebrer  ©innenlujl,  ©c^welgcrei  unb  ©etümmel  jugebrad^t 
wirb.  SBürbe  il)m  bag  je  gelingen.  Würbe  biefer  I)eilige  !Jag  »on  !l^l)eater:iD?nftt  wieber. 
ballen  unb  in  Lagerbier  ertränft  werben,  fo  würbe  mit  il)m  unfere  »^rcifieit  ju  (grabe  ge^n. 

2Bir  wiffcn  fe^r  wo^l,  Wa3  für  •§errfd)cr  eö  waren,  bie  i^ren  93öltern  93ergnüguiig3- 
tage  unb  ©djaufpiclc  gaben.  (Saligula,  S^lcro  unti  i'^reö  (S^leic^en  traten  baö.  ©ie  füt= 
terten  ilire  ©flaoen  mit  äiergnügungcn,  bamit  fie  il)re  ©flaüerei  »ergägen.  ^Tljrannen, 
wie  (Saligula  unb  ölero,  (gteic^oiel,  ob  fie  S&iften -finb,  ober  ÜJeniagogen  eine^  ^rcifiaatö, 
bie  gern  2)iftatoren  werben  möd^ten,)  fönnen  mit  einfad)en,  wal)ren,  treuen  Scannern  i^ren 
3»e(f  nid)t  crreid^en.  ©ie  l^aben  lieber  mit  betäubten,  verwirrten  Seuten  ju  tliun,  nnb 
«m  fold)e  ju  befommen,  betäuben  ftc  fie  iiixä}  !Eage  ber  Suft. 

^i)x  l)ört  mand>e  ©pottreben  über  bie  Puritaner  b'er  ju  8anbe.  ©0  fpotteten  auä)  bie 
Äa»alierc  in  ßnglanb  oor  jwei^unbert  3al)ren  ber  ^Puritaner  ober,  wie  fte  fie  nannten,  ber 


24 

Kunbfö^.-'fe.  5t6cr  alä  bie  J^vUmlicve  ir.  bcu  Srf)(ac()t  i'oii  [Oiavilon.-lUoor  bicfen  betcnbcn 
^puvitaucm  entficgciitvatcii,  ba  mußten  f(c  lun-  i()iicu  in'^  ®raä  beigen. 

2l(g  »or  ivciiig  iBüd}en  bcv  >!3clb,  bcffcu  OJame  jd^t  in  5l((cv  äiJunbe  i|i,  feine  fleine 
©djaav  Don  'gort  Sioultrie  nact)  'i^oxt  (Snmtcr  fiU)rte  itnb  bort  bag  Sternenbanner  auf« 
Vfian^te,  f'niccte  er  mit  aW  feineu  ©otbatcn  nicbcr  unb  betete  ju  ®ott.  Sie  Jlunbe  baoon 
crcjriff  mit  fflJad)t  ade  <&erjcn  in  iinfenn  Sanbc  unb  fc^te  bic  2Bclt  in  (Staunen.  Sa«  ift 
ein  ?JJanu,  f)ieg  cS,  »or  beni  bie  'Jeiube  jid;  fd)cuen  mögen!  Siefe  fdjrccflidjen  Puritaner 
beten  cril,  unb  barnad;  fämvtfen  fie  toie  Söwcn. 

Uufere  Säter  ()aben  ebcnfadiS  fnicenb  uub  Bctenb  i()r  Sännet  t;ier  im  ganbe  aufge« 
^jftau^t.  Sie  fjabcn  C'^  in  Scfi^  genommen  aU  Seute,  bic  @ott  fürd)tcn  unb  3f)m  ju  bics 
Ken  begefjren.  SBir,  il)re  9tad)fommen,  fiub  uidjt  äßillen^,  Slnberc  (^iujuftojjen,  bajj  fic 
mit  UM  fnieeu.  Sie  mi^gcn  beten  ober  nid}t,  wie  ti  iljmn  gefällt.  S'U"  ii">5  fi-'l^'c»^  i^^" 
forbcrn  wir  bag  91ed)t  jum  53cten,  unb  lt*ir  forbern  ferner,  baf  tvir  in  biefcm  9tcd)t  an 
©otteg  9lu()etag  nid}t  burd)  Uirmcubc  Spieler  unb  Sri}wclger  gehäuft  Jvcrbcn.  Uufcr 
Sabbatl)  foil  ein  fricbiidjcr  uub  fetcvlid)er  Sabbatf)  fein.  SBir  ivcllcn  in  unfern  .ßird;cn 
Stille,  in  unfern  Strafen  9iul)e  ()abeu.  2öic  gefagt,  cg  l)aubelt  fid)  l}ier  nid)t  barum,  ob' 
3()r  beten  follt.  3l)r  nuigt  bag  t()uu  ober  laffen— wieincljl  wir  S'ud;  cruillid)  ratl)eu,  eg  ju 
t^un.  (äg  fjanbelt  ft d)  nur  barum,  ob  wi  v  ,  bic  wir  ju  beten  uninfdjen,  babei  ungeftört 
fein  foKcn.  Sag  ift'g,  ivag  wir  forfcrn.  3«  biefcm  Sinne  beten  »ir:  ®ütt,  crl;alte 
uufcr  ©emcinliH'fcn! — 

ecincit  ^rofeffor  .^itdjcod.  3Iad}bem  !)ieraiif  ncä)  ber  2?er^i  gefungen  mar :  ,,Scb, 
6-(}i-'  unb  ^rei»  fei  ©ott!"  unb  juni  £ct)hifie  öcn  ^^paftor  Stol^lmattn  ber  Segen  ge= 
fproc^en  itar,  ging  bie  SSerfammlung  befriebigt,  erfreut  unb  erbaut  auc>einanber. 


9»  gcrucrc^S  3?crfja(tcn  ber  gciubc  bc*3  Souiitaj^^, 

3öer  Sl^nerifa  fennt,  iueif;,  »oelc^  eine  '^adjt  bier  bie  ^^reffe  ift.  ©ctt  Scb  !  biefe 
^laäjt  ift  faft  ungetl;ei(t  auf  6eite  ber  Sonntagc^freunbe.  S)ie!§  geigte  fid)  andj  ba= 
rin,  baj3  alle  engnfd)en  politifdjen  3eitungen  üon  9^en5=5>r!  mit  grof;er  IHditung 
ßon  ber  33erfammhing  am  10.  ^Olärj  fprad}en  unb  'i>a^  meiere  tocn  iljnen  bcn  .Oaupt= 
inbaltber  gebaltcnen  9]eben  auc^fül;rlic^  berid}teten ;  bie  beutfd^en  Leitungen  ba; 
gegen,  attermeift  ber  ,,9icm=3)Dr!er  ®emo!rat/'  lief5en  fic^  in  ibrem  53erid}t  bariiber 
bie  gel)äffigften  entfteUungen  gu  Sc^ulben  fommen.  S)al}in  gehört  aUermeift  bie 
58el)auptung,  aU  fei  bie  DJtebrbeit  ber  25erfammlung  mit  bereu  Senbeng  unb  $^e= 
fd}lüffen  nid)t  lüirflid)  einr>erftanben  gciuefen— lua'3  bed)  ber  3Babrbeit  fd^nurftrad^S 
juiriberlduft.  Ueber  bie  gcbäffigcn  3lu:?fälle  gegen  bie  einzelnen  JRebner  fdjmcigen 
tt)ir.  3iur  GiniS  fei  barüber  bemerft!  2)er  ,,2)emofrat"  batte  Jag:?  juücr  einen 
2lrtifel  mit  ber  Ueberfcbrift :  ,,2Ber  finb  bie  SRiiftseuge  beä  .gerrn?"  »orin,  auf 
©runb  ber  gebrudten  3(nfünbigung,  fämmtlidje  9Iebner  genannt  )uurben,  mit  33ci= 
fügung  folgenber,  fcl}r  bc3eid)nenber  älufforberung :  ,,Xlm  3(uc-funft  über  bicfe  i^er= 
fönlid^feiten  erfud}t  bie  9ieba!tion  beä  ,2)emofrat.'  "  6-5  mar  offenbar  barauf  ab- 
gefebcn,  etmag  9iad)tbeiligeg  über  ben  einen  ober  anbern  ^Jcbncr  ju  crfabrcn  unb 
mi}glid)ft  aue^jubeuten.  2lllcin — bie  Sitte  ber  9iebaftion  blieb  ebne  Gvfclg;  ber 
6d)mäbartifel,  bcn  fie  am  Jage  nad}ber  in  ibr  93latt  fetite,  entbleit  blofj  2)^if5bcutung 
unb  2>erbrebung  ber  91  e  b  e  n  ,  aber  feine  Stnflagen  miber  bie  9?  e  b  n  e  r . 

©leid)  am  folgenben  Sonntag,  ben  17.  2Jlcirj,  Ijielten  bie  geinbe  beä  Sonntag^ 
eine  jmeite  ^Bcrfammlung  im  beutfdjcn  ,,Stabt=3:bcatcr,"  lücrin  eine  M^lntiücrt" 


25 

auf  bie  Grftäntngen  ber  3?er[atiimhnuj  t»cm  10.  Tläx^  gegeben  mürbe.  Stefe  ,,2lnt« 
Irort"  unternimiut  e»  gar  md}t,  bie  üorgebrad^ten  ©rünbe  burd}  ©egengrünbe  gu  töiä 
berlegen,  [onbern  ergebt  fid)  blofj  in  (£d}mäf)reben,  lüie  bie  fotgenben,  burd)  lüeld^e 
natürlid}  nid}t»  betüicfen  unb  nid}t!o  au^geri^tet  irirb. 

,,1.  3Bir  bcutfd}en  Slbcptiübürger  ber  g  e  g  e  n  tt>  ä  r  t  i  g  e  n  33erfammlung  finben 
es  fo  unbcgrciüi(^  alä  texädjüid) ,  ba^  e§  bier  im  freien  2(meri!a  nod;  SJIäuner,  im 
beutfcbcn  isclfgebcren,  geben  fann,  bie  ftd}  freiirillig  ju  ^Bert'jeugen  ber  33igDtterie 
unb  Sii-^tins^-inpral  beigeben  unb  fid)  baburi^  ^u  Sitjrannen  ber  ©einiffen  lu  machen 
bereit  finb.  S)iefe  2(u'^artung  bcy  urfprünglid^en  to(eranten  beutfd}en  Sinne'S  unb 
©ciftcio  ift  fo  ungeiüöbnlid},  fo  einjig  in  ibrer  3irt,  ino  immer  9!Ucinner  beutfcben 
Stammet  ein  2lft)l  gefudjt  unb  gefunben,  baf}  man  tion  einer  folcben  @rfd}einung 
notf^föcnbig  ouf  nerftimmte  Seeton  ober  üermirrte  Äöpfe,  bie  am  menigften  Sebenä  = 
normen  für  5Inbere  ju  cntmerfen,  ja  faum  üon  ifjrem  ^^etitiomärecbt  vernünftigen  ©e^ 
hxauä)  3u  nmdien  fäbig  finb,  fd)lief;en  mufj. 

,,2.  2öir  finben  i§  Ijodjit  üerädjtlid),  tnenn  bie  £eiter  jener  35erfammlung  tmä) 
bie  Semonftration  ben  ©tauben  gu  erregen  fucbten,  als  ob  ber  ^uritaniiSmuö  in  im= 
ferem  33euölferungobcftanbtf)ei(  mebr  benn  eine  Jinnjige  DJlinoritdt  reprdfentire ;  lüir 
finben  es  junefad}  r)eräd}tlid},  toenngleicb  djarafteriftifcb  für  bie  fieiter  ber  S>erfamm= 
lung,  orbindrc  ilniffe  ansumenben,  um  ^ublitum  fjerbeiäusiel^n,  überl)aupt  eine  33ers 
fammhmg  ju  I)aben ;  fotd^e  %x\d§  nennt  man  im  3?Dlf  eine  gälfd^ung  be§  tnafjren 
Stanbs  ber  Singe,  mit  einem  2öorte:  33  e  t  r  u  g  ! 

,,3.  2Bir  finben  c»  grunbücrdd)tlid},  »t>enn  jene  Stusgeartetcn  ibre  finfteren  ^ptdne 
unttr  bem  2}ec!mantel  wen  9Jun-alitdt  unb  Sittlid}feit,  bie  befanntlid}  am  inenigften 
tierteljt  hjerben,  ttio  bem  freien  Ssolfsteben  am  menigften  3>i"i"g  auferlegt  mirb,  üer^ 
feigen — ein  mcberne»  ^barifdertbum,  eine  birefte  ^ffanjftdtte  für  ^mmoralitdt  unb 
Unfittlicbtcit,  luie  bie  ©efd}id}te  ber  Steifer  auä  taufenb  Seifpieten  lebrt"  ic.  k. 

@eii^5,  ba»  I)ei^t  gefd}impft  tuie  ein  9{of)rfperling !  @ut,  ba^  e»  9Iiemanben  toer^ 
Ie|it  aU  biejenigen,  von  benen  foldje  Dteben  au^gef^en! 


10,  S5crljaltcn  ber  ^cni^latiir. 

2Bir  Ü)c'ücn  fdjHe^Iicb  nod)  mit,  tvaä  bie  gefet^gebenbe  S^erfammlung  be§  Staate^ 
9cem-9)crf  mäbrenb  ibrer  Silmng  im  SBinter  unb  5i'üf)ling  1861  in  biefer  2tngele= 
genbeit  getban — ober  üielmcbr  nid^t  get  ban  bat. 

Q§  ging  bamit  fo  ^u.  5)ie  ßommittee  ber  2(ffembi^,  »t>eld)er  bie  petition  ge^ 
gen  ba»  £onntag<5gefet.  gur  93erid)terftattimg  übermiefen  mürbe,  ging  auf  bie  3«^«= 
tbung,  einen  ®efet.cnttüurf  jum  2Biben:uf  te§  ©efet;e'J  üom  17.  Stpril  1860  unb  ber 
(Sefef.e,  bie  ben5?erEauf  geiftiger  ©etrdnfe  am  Sonntag  »erbieten,  einzubringen,  nic^t 
ein.  $J)ccb  gab  eine  geringe  5Kebrbeit  ber  Committee  ben  Unterjeicbnern  jener  ^4>etition 
infolreit  nad),  ba^  fie  einen  ©efe^^entmurf  einbrad^te,  bermöge  beffen  Sagerbier,  3lle 
unb  anberc  au»  äRalj  bereitete  ©etrdnfe  am  Sonntag  üerfauft  merben  bürften.  Sie 
501inberbeit  ber  ermäbnten  (Committee  aber  fprad)  fid)  bei  biefer  Oklegenbeit  auf  eine 
fo  t(are  unb  beftimmte  3(rt  über  bicfe  S^age  au^,  baf5mir  uuiS  nid)t  entbaltcn  tonnen, 
einige  .^auptpunfte  ausibrem  33erid}t  I:)erDor3ubeben.  Sie  SJIcbrbeit  ber  gefe^ge  = 
lenben   5.'erfamm(ung   ift,  mie  mir  genügenbe  llrfad)e    baben  ju    glauben, 


26 

mit  bemjenigen,  toaä  bie  2Rinber^eit  ber  60  nt  mit  tee  über  bie  Sonntaggfrage 
fagt,  einüerftanben.    2^er  Seric^t  beginnt : 

,,®er  üon  ber  aJlebvbeit  ber  Committee  eingebradjte  ©efegentrtjurf  betrifft  bengan^ 
gen  Staat  unb  jielt  babin,  überall  innerljalb  beffen  ©eridbtöbarfeit  ben  5ßertauf  »on 
,,£agerbier,  2lle  unb  anbern  aus  2JIalä  bereiteten  ©etränfen"  am  Sonntag  ju  legali: 
firen.  Seine  befonbere  Hbfidbt  ift  febod^,  bie  Jbeater  ttjieber  3U  öffnen  unb  bie  ©ier= 
fallen  ber  Stabt3Retü=^ort  für  bie  beutfdbe  Senölferung  ju  legalifiren,  um  fi(^  ®e= 
lüobnbeiten  unb  SSergnügungen  binjugeben,  bie  mit  einer  rubigen  unb  nü|;ücben 
Sonntagyfeier  unüerträglicb  finb,  unb  nur  in  ben  fittenlofeften  großen  Stäbten  beä 
5eftlanbe!§  üon  Europa  gebulbet  werben." 

,,®erUmftanb,  ba^  gebrannte  SBaff er  nid^t  mit  einbegriffen  finb,  »eränbert  meber 
ben  Gbarafter  heä  ©efeljientftiurfeg,  nodb  verringert  er  bie  ßinmürfe  gegen  benfelben. 
S)ie  ©etüobnljeit,  jebe»  ©etrdn!  mit  f(i)äblicben  Buf^feen  5"  üerfälfcben,  gehjäbrt  bem= 
jenigen,  rtieldbet  angeblid?  blo^  Sier  trin!t,  bie  SD^ittel,  feinen  nod?  fo  üerberbten  ©e= 
fdbmacf  auf'jo  »oUftänbigfte  ju  befriebigen.  Slrunfcnbeit,  ©ntfittticbung  unb  Softer 
muffen  gciüaltig  junebmen  unb  ber  cbriftlid^e  Sabbatb  ftiirb  in  einen  beibnifdjen 
SSergnügungstag  ausarten,  menn  Tiergärten  ju  einer  amerifanifcben  3i"ftitutiDtt 
h)erben,  unb  ber  SOerfauf  aller  Strien  üon  33ier  am  Sonntag  gefe^li^  erlaubt  imb 
befd}ü|t  föirb " 

,,®ic  neueren  Sonntag^gefe^e  gelten  blo^  barauf  au;?,  allen  C^laffen,  befonberl 
aber  ben  Slrbeitern,  H)x  unüeräu^erlid)e§  9ted}t  auf  einen  njöcbentlicben  9hibetag  ju 
fidlem.  Sie  geiüäb^en  ben  greunben  ber  Sieligion  G5elegenl)eit  ju  ungeftörten  2ln: 
baditsübungen,  unb  ber  ganjen  bürgerlicben  ©efellfd^aft  33efreiung  öon  ber  2.serfu: 
d)ung  ju  ßei^ft^euungen,  Saftern  unb  SSerbre^en,  auf  ba^  ber  2!ag  ber  Grl;olung  nicbt 
3U  einem  Jlud)  unb  2tergernif5  merbe." 

,,2)iefe  ©efe^^e  ^at  ficb  ba»  25ül!  felbft  gegeben.  Sie  fmb  unparteilicb  unb  ftimmen 
feljr  mobl  mit  bem  ©eift  unfrer  freien  :3>iftitittionen  überein.  Sie  finb  nHnfd)en= 
freunbli^  in  ibrem  6influ^  auf  bie  Slrmen,  gered)t  in  ibrer  33efcbränfung  felbftifdjer 
©elüfte,  unb  unerlä^li(^  aU  Scbufiiüebr  ber  öffentlid}en  Sitte.  Sie  bienen  jur  53e= 
förberung  ber  ©efunbbeit,  SBoblbabenbeit  unb3:ugenb  beySSoltes;  fie  beförbcrn  3lacb: 
beulen,  Selbftbeberrfdbung  unb  ©ert?iffenl;aftigteit,  melcbe  benSiürgern  eine'5  5rei- 
ftaatö  jiemen:  fie  ftärlen  fomit  bie  ©runblage  unfrer  auf  Selbftregierung  berechne; 
ten  ^nftitutionen.  Sagtbodb  ber  ^tidjter  2)lcßean,  t>on  bem  oberften  ©erif^tebc'f  ber 
S3er.  Staaten:  ,,2ßo  lein  cbriftlidjer  Sabbatb  ift,  ba  ift  leine  d)riftlid}e  Sitte,  unb 
obnc  biefe  lann  ein  e^'^eiftaat  nicbt  lange  beftebn."  ßbenbabin  5ielt  SBafbington')^ 
Slbfcbiebsruf  an  feine  Sanbioleute,  morin  e»  Ijei^t:  ,,9fieligion  unb  Sittlid)leit  finb  bie 
unerlä^licben  Stufen  aller  geiftigen  2:riebe  rmb  ©etüoljnbeiten,  tt?elcbe  basS  ©ebeiben 
eine»  Staate  beförbern.  5?ergeben;§  njürbe  berjenige  auf  ben  stamen  eines  S>ater: 
lanbsfreunbeg  2tnfprudb  madben,  ber  babin  ftreben  mürbe,  biefe  ftarfen  Säulen 
menf(^lidben  ©lüdle^,  biefe  fefteften  Stü^punfte  ber  $flid}ten  be!§  üJlenfdben  unb  be§ 
Sürgerg,  umjufturjen" 

,,SGBir  miffen  febr  mobl,  ba^  bie  gefe^licben  93eftimmungen,über  »neldbe  man  fid^ 
bellagt,  einem  2:beile  unfrer  5Ritbürger,  bie  üom  geftl^^n^e  duropa'S  fommen,  al^  ben 
Sonntagsbeluftigungen,  an  mekbe  fie  bort  genjobnt  maren,  mibcrftreitenb  erfdjeinen. 
Dbne  3tt»eifel  beftebt  aud)  unter  einem  Sljeite  ber  eingebornen  Seüölferung  eine  ge^ 
tüiffe  Sieigung,  ben  Sonntag  al§  einen  Zaq  t>eä  SSergnügeni»  anjufetjn.     2Rit  ben 


27 

»erf(^iebenen  tljecretifchen  3lnfic^ten  iifccr  ben  (Habbotl)  ^aben  tvxx  \}kx  md)t§  ju  tl)im. 
Qä  genügt  un§,  ba^  feit  unbentlidjen  3'eiten  burd>  ©efe^  unb  Sitte,  fonjie  burdj  bie 
allgemeine  Ueberjeugung  be»  3>ül!e:^,  unfer  bürgerli4)er  Sabbatf?  aU  eine  ^nftitu: 
ticn  unferä  Staate»  unb  ganjen  ?anbe»  fo  fe[t  gegrünbet  ift,  ba^  c§  jebem  beobac^: 
tenben  Jreniben  auffällt,  ^ebe  in  Gurcpa  erfc^einenbe  amerifanifc^e  9Jeifebef(i)rei- 
bung  erfennt  biefe  2l;atfad)e  an.  Gin  berüfjmter  gransofe,  2)uponceau,  aufwerte  bar^ 
über,  ,,t)on  Sltlent,  toaä  lüir  als  c^ara!teriftifd;e  ^ÜQt  unferä  Sßolfel  nennen,  fei 
unfre  Sabbatljfeier  t>a§  ein5ige  föaljrljaft  Dktionale  unb  2tmetifanifd)e,  unb  er  ^cffe 
unb  münfc^e  f(f)on  be^^jalb,  ta^  biefe  ^eier  unfernt  ©efütjl  unb  ^atriüti»muio  ftetä 
h?evtl?  bleibe."  ©ine  berartige  Sluffaffung  ber  Sac^c  nimmt  ben  gefe^lofen  ätngrifj 
fen  auf  unfre  Sitten  unb  Ueberjeugungen  jebe  (!ntfd)ulbigung,  bie  il^nen  fonft  etttja 
geiDäfjrt  njerben  möd^te.  Ginmanberer  auä  anbern  Säubern  ttju^ten  ober  fonnten  tve^ 
nigftensi  njiffen,  ba^  unfer  Sonntag  ber9iul)e  unb  bem  ©ottesbienft  gemibmet  ift,  unb 
baj}  bie  Seluftigungen  »on  ^^ari»  oberSBien  t)ier  nidjt  gebulbet  twerben.  2Bir  öffnen 
bie  ^^forten  unfrei  Sanbe»  2lllen,  bie  l)iel?er  fomnien,  unb  geben  il^nen  »ollen  2tntt)eil 
an  ber  Jreiljeit,  n?eldt)e  ber  eingeborne  Bürger  geniest — fohjeit  fold^eis  mit  ber  Sicher: 
l?cit  unfrer  freien  ^"ftitutionen  befte^n  !ann.  2tber  Safter  unb  ©enjo^nf^eiten,  bie 
njir  unter  unso  felbft  mijt  bulben,  lönnen  tt>irebenfo  ttjenig  juounften  Slnberer  lega: 
lifiren." 

,,@§  ift  übrigeng  unrid)tig  ju  bet)aupten,  ba^  bie  ganje  beutfd^e  Seoölferung  in  bie= 
fer  Srage  ßine»  Sinnen  fei.  2aufenbe  »on  einmanbernben  Seutfc^en  bleiben  il^rem 
i'aterlanbe  fortnjäljrenb  mit  Siebe  juget^an  unb  gebenfen  gern  an  beffen  gloneidje  2>eri 
gangenl^eit ;  babei  aber — jum  bleibenben  D^lu^m  be;«  beutfc^en  ^kmenä  fei  eä  gefagt 
— ttjerfen  fie  bie  fd^led^ten  @en)ol)nl)eiten  unb  Seluftigungen  t^inttjeg,  bie  in  fpäteren 
Seiten  ber  iöieberfeit  unb  5Jreue,  meldte  bie  ©runblage  be»  beutfdjen  ßl)ara!terä 
bilben,  ßintrag  getl)an'^aben." 

,,Siefe  9}länner  begeben  fid),  menn  fie  l)ier  anlangen  unb  bie  ^flic^ten  unb  23er: 
antwortüd^feiten  amerifanifc^er  ^Bürger  überneljmen,  freinjillig  foh?ol?l  unter  bie 
S(^ranten  al»  unter  'an  Sc^u^  unferer  ©efe^e.  Sie  ftreben  barnai^,  f\d)  felbft  unb 
ber  gansen  beutfd^en  $Be»ölferung  bie  S55ol)ltf)aten  einer  l^ö^eren  6i»ilifation  ju 
fic^eni,  inbem  fie  bie  bürgerlichen  Ginrio^tungen  aufredet  erl)alten  Reifen,  burd)  hjelo^e 
ba!o  2>olf  miber  baiä  Ginbringen  »on  Sitten»erberbni^  unb  Sßerbred)en  gefd)irmt  n)irb. 

2!iefe  DJiänner  bilben  gegenrt>ärtig  einen  anfe^nlic^en  58eftanbtl)eil  ber  beutfd)en 
S8e»ölferung  »on  3Reh3=3)orf  unb  gewinnen  täglich  neue  2lnl>änger  für  bie  Sac^e  ber 
DJiä^igfeit,  Sittlid^!eit  unb  ftrengen  Seobac^tung  eben  ber  SonntagsSgefege,  hjelc^c 
ber  eingebrad)tc  ©efe^entrourf  tljeilmeife  abfc^affen  möchte." 

,,2)iefe  Männer  grünben  S3ibliDtl)efen,  Sd^ulen  unb  Äird^en  unb  tradjten  naö) 
Sefferung  unb  .^ebung  ber  9}lenfct)l)eit  mit  einem  Gmfte,  ber  feinen  Sofjn  bereitiä 
gefunben  l)at  unb  in  ber  3u^unft  auiJgejeic^nete  Grfolge  l^offen  lä^t.  S?er  .^aupts 
hjiberftanb  aber  gegen  itjre  menfdjenfreunblid^en  33eftrebungen  geljt  »on  benjenigen 
aue,  bie  in  ben  Soben  ber  ^^rei^eit  Safter  pflanzen  mochten,  toelc^e,  tt>enn  fie  einmal 
eingeiüurjelt  hjören,  nur  burc^  ben  ftarfen  Sirm  abfoluter  ©ett)alt  »erljinbert  hjerben 
tonnten,  ba§  gan5e  Sanb  gu  überrt>ud)ern." 

,,3}er  Sßiberruf  irgenb  eineä  l'i)dkä  ber  Sonntaglgefe^e  ju  bem  S^Jed,  SSiergärs 
ten  unb  Sierljatlen  am  Sonntag  ju  legalifiren,  n^ürbe  eine  Ungeredjtigfeit  gegen  jene 
SUlönner  fein,  bie  il;re  Sanb^leute  »on  ben  Sonntagsbeluftigungen,  an  njeld^e  fic 


2ö 

friifjer  gelt)öf)nt  iraren,  ab3U3ie^en  ftrcben,  um  fic  für  bie  21ufvcd}terl)altuiig  fon  reli= 
giöfen  unb  33ilbungä=2tn[ta(ten  5U  geminncn/  iüelc^e  baä  S3olf  I;cben  unb  bct  Diiil^m 
unfercio  ^afirl^unbert»  fmb." 

•  ,,Gin  [cld^er  2Btbertuf  njürbe  ferner  eineUngerec^tigfeit  gegen  ade  biejenigen  C)C^ 
Inerbe  fein,  beren  Söetrieb  nac^  tok  ncr  burc^  bie  Scnntagc-gefe^ic  t>erbDten  bleibt. 
SBenn  einige  trenige  ©efcbdfte,  ober  ein  prioilegirter  ^anbel,  ütrn  bem  9?uben  aller 
anbern  am  Sonntag  iRu^en  jiefjt,  fo  toertranbeln  ficb  ja  eben  bie  Scbranfen,  riermit= 
telft  beren  9ieligicn  unb  ©ittlidiEeit  bie  DJlaffen  i:)on  ber  Arbeit  abbält,  in  ein  WVüUi 
be»  ©elbertnerb^  für  ^ene.  S^aburd}  aber  lt)irb  ber  großen  SOIebr^abl  guter  93ür= 
ger,  h)eld}e  bem  ©efe^e  h)illig  geborenen,  ein  offenbareä  Unred}t  jugefflgt.  5:ie 
Goncurreuä  toirb  bann  immer  DKebrere  ba^in  treiben,  am  Sonntag  if)r  ©eroerbe 
fortjufefeen,  biiS  ber  Sabbatf)  babin  ift  unb  jeber  Scbu^  für  'oa&  9icd}t  bes  2lrbeiter5 

auf  einen  2:ag  ber  ^ube  unb  2tnbad)t  t)erni(^tet  ift." 

.§ierauf  föirb  nod}  bargelegt,  luie  jener  ©efehentmurf  ein  Unrecht  gegen  bie 
Stäbte,  gegen  bie  Sanbbeüölfcrung  unb  gegen  bie  d)riftlid)en  33ürger  fei.  2"ann 
fd}lief5t  ber  S3erid}t  mit  bem  bringenben  ilntrage,  bafs  ber  üon  ber  2)le]^rbett  ber 
Committee  eingebrachte  ©efe^entmurf  nid}t  burcbgeben  möge,  ^er  non  ber  SD^inbcr^ 
l}eit  vorgelegte  33erid}t  ift  unterzeichnet  üon  ben  .^emn  £.  6^.  23  a  I  ( ,  ^.  21. 
$  r  e  n  b  e  r  g  a  ft  unb  2B.  21  n  g  e  I . 

2)ag  ©ubrefultat  xcax,  ba§  t)k  ^Iffembd)  am  9»  %pxii,  ol;ne 
tveitere  Diöcuffton,  mit  71  gegen  24  Stimmen  befcl)(o^,  beu  5hi- 
tvacj  bei- SD^ajorität  auf  beu  3:ifcl)  jii  legen,— eine  5ib|ümmnng, 
iiu1d)e  nic^t  aMn  \)a^  S^efte^en  ber  6onntagögefe|ie  auiljvenb  ber 
3)auer  ber  gegenanirtigeu  Öegiötatur  fiebert,  fonbern  anc^  ju  ber 
Hoffnung  berechtigt,  ba^  hk  ©egner  auf  lange  3tnt  an  bem  Er- 
folg i^rer  SBemü^ungen  verzweifeln  werben. 


— .-•-. —        « 

Sttmmcu  bic  ©onntagö.qcic^c  mit  ber  ^oiiftitutlon  iiBcrcm? 


^n  Sadien  »rn  ©iiftao  SinbenmiUler,  ber  tnegen  t^eatralif(f)er  SSovfteltungen, 
hjeld)e  ev  am  Sonntag  gegeben,  auf  ©runb  be»  ©efel^e»  toom  2tpril  1860  üerurt^eilt 
iüorben  irar,  unb  barauf  an  ben  oberften  ®eric^tsf)of  (Supreme  Court)  be§ 
Staats  9leto=^üv!  appcUirte,  erfolgte  feiten^^  btefe^  ©eric^ts^ofe^,  unter  3:f)ei(naf)me 
ber  SRicbter  Gtevfe,  Sutf^ertanb  unb  Men,  am  29.  dJlai  1861  folgenbe  Gntfd^eibung  :* 

,,'S^ai  S()viRcntf)um  i)l  ein  SJ^cit  beö  gefc^Hc^  güüigeh  ßcrfonimcnö  ober  ©cwc^nl^eif^s 
red;t3  (common  l;uv)  inifevcsS  (Staates?.  !Dieg  ift  nic()t  fo  jii  »erliefen,  ai&  metbc  eine  cv: 
jteungeuc  Suftimmung  evfoibert,  fei  eä  511  ben  fivcf)lid)en  Seiten  unb  93oifc^vifteu  einer 
einzelnen  .R:tvd}cnpartei,  ober  ju  benjcnigen  ®(aubcneifä§cn  iinb  gottceibicnftlicl)en  Ucbiiuj 
gen,  wcxin  alle  53cfctuier  beä  (5^riftent()nmö  iibcveinftimmcn.  ©onbetn  eet  ifi  in  bem  be« 
fd)ränften  (Sinne  ju  iierftcf}en,  ba^  ber  diriftlid^en  9tcligion  unb  i^vcn  öinridjtungen 
Sichtung  unb  (Sd)ul)  gcbiUjrt,  weit  ftc  aucrfannt(id)  bie  Slcligion  unferö  SSolfcö  i)l.  ©cm 
©cwiffcn  foil  fein  3ir>ang  angct()an  ftcrben;  aber  Seute  »on  jcbroeber  !Denf»eife  unb 
®laubcu(5aufid)t  finb  »on  fold;en  ^anblungen  abjufjatten,  burc^  tocld)e  bcm  d}rift(i^en 
©ottc^bienfl  (Sintvag  gefd)iel;t,  ober  bie  3fleligion  getaftert  unb  in  SBerac^tung  gebrad)t 
irirb.  Olicmaube»!  @laube  foft  gcfjemmt  tr»evben,  unb  auc^  eine  in  gejicmenber  SBcifc 
ftattftnbenbe><lunbgcbung  fcincö  retigiöfcn  ©tauben«  ift  5ebcm  gcwä^rteiftet.  9l((cin  bief 
9ted)t  nui§,  glcid)  jcbem  anbern  Stedjte,  unter  forgfaltigcr  5Berücfftc^tigung  ber  gleirfjen 
9lcd;te  5lnbcrer  gci'ibt  werben.  SBenn  jc  religiofer  ©laube  ober  Unglaube  ju  ^anblungen 
fii^rt,  burd)  wctd)e  bem  ©otteäbienft  unb  ben  @ewiffenöre(^ten  berer  (Sintrag  gefc^ie^t, 
bic  fid)  jur  Saubc^vcligion  bc!cnnen,  (»etdjc  jttjar  nid)t  burd)  ©efe^e,  aber  wo^t  burc^  bie 
adgemeine  3ufliinmung  unb  (Sitte  ber  93ürger  8anbe6veligion  geworben  ifi,  fdjon  oor  ber 
©riinbung  cinei^  georbneten  (Staat^toefcng,)  fo  fönncn  fotd^e  «^anblungcn  burc^  bie  gefe^s 
gcbenbc  ©ewalt  verboten  werben. 

„aJlit  anbern  3Borten  :  2)a3  Sfjrificnt^um  i)l  bei  una  ni^t  gefe^lid^c  ©taatörcltgtoit, 
ifi  aber  g(eid}Wol)l  bie  SSolf^rcligion.  2)iefe  !t{)atfad;e  tritt  afleut^alben  in  ber  ®efci)ic^te 
unfcre«  Sauber  fieroor,  unb  ifi  öon  je^er  »om  93o(fe,  fowie  »on  Sßcrfaffung;  gebenben  (Son« 
»entionen,  gefcf.gebenben  SSerfammlungen  unb  ©crid^tö^ijfen  anexUnnt,  unb  c3  ijibemges 
mä^  »erfafircn  wovben. 

„©ie  a?crfaf|ung  »on  1777,  §  38,  fe^t  fefi,  bap  bie  freie  STugiibung  rctigiöfcn  93ci 
fenntniffes  unb  ©ctteöbicnfieö,  otine  llnterfc^icb  ober  SBorjug,  :^infort  auf  immer  gefiattet 
fei,  »crauogcfc^t,  bap  bie  f)ieburd)  gcwä^rteifiete  ©ewiffcn^frei^cit  nid)t  mipoeutet  werbe 
jur  Gnti'd)utbiguiig  fittcntcfcr  .^anblungen  ober  foldjer  ©ewo^n^eiten,  bie  bcm  ^rieben 

*Die§  höd}^  roicfetige  5lftenftücf  ifl  nacfef}e^ent)  mit  mögttc^ftcr  Zxeut  ü6erfc|t  loorbcn,  jwar  feiner 
6cträc^tüd)cn  ?äiigc  we(\m  nic^t  »otlflänbig,  tot^  fo,  fcnp  a((e  überhaupt  wieiergegcfcenen  ©teilen  »oE= 
flautig  tüictcrgcgeben  finb. 

ffiiv  auäreärtigc  Scfcr  6emer!en  roir,  bas  @.  Sinbenmitfla-  ebeit  bcvfetbc  i)l,  son  bcm  auf®.  4  bic« 
fcr  Scftvift  crwäfint  warb,  baf  er  feine  t^catralifcficn  ffiurfteftungen  ben  „©ottcäbienfl  ber  bcutfc^en 
@^ater=@cmeinbe"  nannte  unb  fi*  feieturrfi  ju  rcrfitfcvtigcn  fncftte. 


uno  bcr  (2;id)cvl)cit  bcö  Staat«?  juttiiicvlaufcn.  !Dtcfc(be  S3cfitmmung  finbct  ftd^  in  bet 
aerfaffung  »on  1821,  3lvt.  7,  ©cct.  3,  fowic  in  bcr  93eifafi'ung  »on  1846,  3lvt.  1,  Sect.  3. 
Sic  ßcnücntion,  ■ocn  xoddjcx  bic  Sjcrfaffimg  von  1777  (}criü()rt,  betätigte  jugleidj  bie 
Unab()ängigfeitöerflänuig  («cm  4.  3uli  1776)  unb  fd)ifftc  fie  ber  Scrfajfung  aii  Einleitung 
vovauei.  Sic  Unabbänaigfeitä:öiflärnng  abci  entl;ä(t  eine  birefte,  fcierlidje  53evnfung 
auf  ben  ,,i)cü)iien  Sdidjter  bcr  9Bclt/'  unb  fvvid)t  ,,feftcö  35evtranen  auf  ben  Sdju^  bee 
gijtttidjcn  SBcrfc^ung"  au^.  fflei  5tnnaf}mc  bcv  SScifaffung  »on  1821  ertannte  bae  93clf 
,,nnt  Santbavfeit  bie  ©uabe  unb  ®ütc  ©ctteö"  an,  oermijge  bcvcn  t6  feine  gtcgievungö« 
fürni  nad)  fvcicv  3Ba()(  fcftfcl^en  fijnne.  (äbeiifo  cvflärt  eö  bei  93eftätigung  ber  SSevfaffung 
Mon  1846  ,,für  feine  S«if)fit  firi;  jum  Saufe  gegen  ben  a(imäd}tigen  ©ott  üevvfiidjtet." 
Sic  jujci  elften  SBcvfaffungen  nnfcieö  Staate^  befugen,  bag  ,,*^vcbiger  be6  (Soangclinm3 
»cruiögc  iijxcd  Stniteö  bem  Sienfte  @otte^  nub  bcr  Sorge  für  baö  J&eit  ber  Seelen  gcwibs 
met  finb  unb  ba()cr  «on  ben  großen  *^)filid)teu  if)re«s  93crufci5  nid)t  abgejogen  werben"  unb 
t»ebcr  ju  biirgerlidjen  nod)  militärifdjcn  9lcmtern  n\if)lbar  fein  foHen. 

„Stile  biefe  ©cfc^cöbefiimmungen  unb  Srflärungcn  crfennen  beultid)  mcljre  ®runb(c^rcn 
be6  S^riftcntbumö  an  unb  finb  tveit  entfernt  üon  3gnorirung  ©otteö  alö  beö  ^^iJdiftcn 
Senferö  unb  Sflid;tcr^  be^  9BeIta(('J,  i-ber  ber  c^ri|llid}en  Sdeligtcn  aU  ber  aßotfiSrcligion. 
iBiclmcbr  betradjtcn  fic  bicfelbe  mit  if^ren  *^rcbigevn  unb  (Siurid)tungen  al3  ben  gemeins 
famen  ®(anben  ber  ffliivgcr,  aU  dwai  ol)ne  33ei()ülfc  bcö  Staate^  ober  ^?ontifd)C  33crbin  = 
bungcn  mit  if}m  58eßcf)enbe^,  aber  glcidjniobl  mit  einer  guten  Dlcgierung  innig  93evfnü^f« 
ki,  inbcm  c^  bic  einige  fid)cre  ©runblagc  gefuuber  Sitte  bilbet. 

,,Sic  »erfc^iebncn  93crfa|Tung:gebenbeu  (Scn^cntioncu  erfaunten  bic  c^rifitic^c  SHeligion 
auri)  baburc^  alö  bie  33olfiireligion  an,  ba§  fic  i()rc  täg(id;cu  Si^ungen  mit  ®ebet  crcffs 
neten,  ben  djriftlic^en  Sabbatl)  feierten  unb  eigenbö  bejlimmten,  baf'  an  bicfcm  SJage  feine 
«om  ©ouücrncur  jurfufgcfanbtcn  ®efc|cnt»ürfc  angenommen  tcerbcn  foHtcn. 

„3n  bem  ^roceffe  bccs  93olfcö  gegen  Dluggic^,  8  3.  91,  291,  entfdjicb  ber  ®crtd)t«^of, 
ba§  Säftcruug  ®otte«i,  fotnie  befd)impfenbc  Sd}mä()ung  unb  gemeine  SBerfpottung  (5()rifti 
ober  ber  (^eiligen  Sdjrift,  in  unferm  Staate  aiä  öffeutlidje  93ergc^en  firafwürbig  feien. 
Sf>.  3-  Acut  fagt,  Sd)mäbung  bcr  Keligicn,  j^u  ber  fid)  faf^  a((e  Q3ürgcr  bcfcnncu,  fei  ein 
Siifibraud)  ber  burd)  bie  33crfaffung  gewä{)rleiiletcn  Slcligionö:  unb  93efprcd)uugßfrci(}cit. 
(Sr  fagt  ferner,  bie  93erfaf|uug  fidjre  feine3u?egs  ber  Sdcligion  3)Jul)ameb'ö  ober  bCiS  Salai: 
gama  bicfelbe  5td)tung  mic  bcr  gictigion  uufrci5  ^eilanbciS  ju,  unb  jtvar  and  bem  einfad)en 
®runbc,  n3Ctl  toir  ein  c^rtf^Ud)eö  93cl£  feien  unb  bie  Sitte  uufcrcä  Sanbeö  fi(^  ganj  unb 
gar  auf  baö  (5briftcnt()um  flü^c. 

„Ser  Sabbat^,  aid  cine  bürgerliche  3nflitution,  ift  bei  unö  älter  aU  bic  ®rünbung 
cineß  gccrbneten  Staat?wefenö.  Sie  ®rünber  ber  erf^cn  Sßcvfaffung  faubcn  iljn  ala  bc: 
fieljcub  »or.  Sie  fdjafften  il)n  n^cber  ai,  ncd)  »eränbertcu  fie  il]n,  nod)  »crringevtcn  fie 
feine  9lnfprüd)e  ober  bie  93crpiüid)tung  bcö  5Bolfd,  il)n  ju  l^alfcn.  Unb  gefegt,  fie  bätten 
i()n  nid)t  bereit«  oorgcfunfen,  fo  ^tten  fic  mit  gied)t  ibn  einführen  bürfen.  6«  ifi  ein 
®cfc^  unfercr  5latur,  bag  (Sin  2:ag  unter  Ticben  jur  9lul)e  unb  örbolung  angcwenbet  wer: 
ben  mug.  Sic  (Srfal)rung  l)at  gelel)rt,  bag  ein  n3ijd)cuttid)er  Sdufietag  ,,bcm  Staat  erftann- 
lidjcn  Oiu^en  bringt,  fd)on  aii  rein  burgcrlidje^nfiitution  betrad)tet."  (4  931.  (5om.,63.) 
2Biv  fmb  pt^^fifd)  fo  conflituirt,  bag  genau  badjcnigc  Scitmag,  n^clc^ed  ber  Scfatog  (bie 
gcl)n  ®cbcte)  fefife^t,  ber  5Ru^c  unb  (Sr^olung  gcwibmct  uicrbcn  mug.  ®efd)iel)t  bic« 
nid)t,  fo  rädjt  Tid)  bad,  njic  jebe  Ucbertrctung  ber  [Raturgefclje  fid)  räc^t ;  unb  eben  boburd^ 
beftätigt  bic  Olatur  bad  »om  Sinai  »crfünbigtc  pofitioe  ®efe^. 

„Ser  fid)re  ^ovtbef^aub  ber  gicgierung,  bad  aB?l)l  ber  Untcrtfianen  unb  bad  3ntereffc 
bcr  mcnfd)lid}en  ®efe(lfd)aft  crforbcui  ferner  bie  gleidjfijrmigc  freier  ein  nnb  t«cffelben 
Saged  feitend  bed  ganjcn  fflolfcd.  3u  biefem  önbc  mug  feine  ?5eicr  in  ettt?a  er^lrungen 
n^erben,  nid}t  bcrgefialt,  bag  bem  @cir>if|en  3wang  ongetl)an  n^crbe,  fonbcrn  blog  j^um 
Sd)n^c  bcrjenigen,  n5eld)e  ben  9lluf)ctag  begebren,  tvoju  fie  bcrcd)tigt  finb.  2Dcld)er  ^aq 
bcr  aBcd)c  aber  aid  ber  ginljctag  gelten  foil,  bad  iuürbc,  fcfern  man  ben  Sabbatf)  aid  rein 
bürgerlid)e  3nftitution  anfielt,  bic  Segidlatur  gu  bcfiimmcn  t)abcn.  '^nx  ein  ci^rifilidjc« 
93oif  iH  cd  jebod^  »öllig  angemeffen,  bag  ber  djrifllidje  Sabbat^  gefeiert  »erbe.    Sic  fitt» 


lic^e  unb  gcfc^Iid^c  UBiirte  bc3  ©taatögcfe^eö  wixi  tt)aT)i-lid)  iiidjt  baburrf)  gcfdjmäfert,  baf 
Co  fid)  beiu  ©cfc^e  ©ctteö  aiivapt,  iuelci)Cö  ja  lion  ber  gvopeu  ä)Jc()r(;eit  bcö  iöütfeg  ancrs 
fannt  wivb. 

,,3it  uiiferm  ©taate  ic\id}t  bcr  (Eciintag  alö  bcv  lrcd}cntlid)e  Stuljctag  frf)on  »ermöge 
bctS  JpcvfümmensS  (common  law,)  (S^  ifi  bal;er  iiiri;t  ©adje  bet  Scgiölatiir,  il)ii  eiiijufu^: 
ten,  füubtnn  blc^  biird;  ifirc  ,,@abf)at^gcfti^c"  bic  2trt  unb  3Bcifc  ber  (gonutagöfeicr  ju 
orbncii.  Sc^oii  bie  iöei-faffung  beflimmt,  ba^  fontraft(id)c  5i3ervfliid)tiiugen,  bic  auf  ben 
©cnntag  fällig  n?etbcn,  am  Samftag  ober  Slontag  gekifiet  iüevben  fcUen  -,  ferner,  bag 
fein  gcrid)tlid;et  ?ift  am  (Eonutag  oorgencmmen  werben  fann,  unb  »ielcö  2tnbere  ber  9lrt. 
3)cr  ci[)riftliri}e  Sabbatf)  tfl  fomit  cine  bcr  biirgerlidjen  Snilitutionen  beä  ©taateö,  weldjcm 
bie  @cfd)äfte  unb  ^plidjten  bcö  ficbenö,  bent  ^erfommen  gernag,  jid)  fügen  unb  anpaffeu 
muffen. 

,,3n  unferm  ©taatc,  hJtcinben  mcif!en,]a  in  fafi  afleu  Staaten  ber  Union,  ftnb  balder 
©cfc^e,  toeldje  bie  9lrt  unb  QBeifc  ber  biirgcrlidK«  ©onntaggfeier  betreffen,  beinahe  gletd)s 
jcitig  mit  ber  ©riinbung  cineö  georbncten  ©taat^wefenö  crtaffen  Werben.  ©d;on  1788 
iintrbc  Sfteifen,  2lrbeitcn  unb  9luöf^c(lung  oon  Saaren  jum  33erfauf  am  Sonntag  »erboten. 
3m  3af)r  1789  würbe  ber  aScrfauf  t^i^iger  Octvänfe  »erboten.  Seitbem  fmb  beftänbig 
©cfe^ciSbeftimmungeu  in  Jliaft  gewefen,  weldje  bie  (Sntf^eitigung  beö  Sonntagö  »erbieten 
unb  an  biefem  S^agc  fotdje  <&anblungen  unterfagen,  weldje  an  anbern  2Bod)entagcn  gefe|: 
lid)  erlaubt  finb. 

,,'5)aö  ®cfe^,  über  wetc^cö  in  gegenwärtigem  j^aflc  Älage  geführt  wirb,  nötfiigt  Slie« 
manben  ju  irgenb  einer  religictfcn  Ucbung  ;  baf)er  auc^  Uebertretungcn  beffetbcu  nid)t  alö 
Sünben  gegen  ®ott,  fonbcrn  nur  alö  ber  ©efedfdjaft  nadjtbeilig  unb  einen  »erberblid^en 
(ä'infiuf  auf  fie  auöubenb  ,^u  beflrafen  finb.  2)iefeö  ®efeg  rufjt  auf  bcr  gleid;en  ©runb: 
läge,  wie  eiuc  SJlenge  anbrer  53efiimmungen  unfre»5  ®cfe^bud)e5,  j.  ^.  bic  ©efe^e  gcge« 
©lüifeifpielc,  Sütterien,  SBorbede,  93ielwctbcrei,  $ferberennen,  g(ud)cn  «nb  @d}Wörcn, 
Störung  religiöfer  SSerfammlungcn,  93ertauf  ()i^iger  ©ctraufe  an  9Ba()(tagcn,  ic.  Stile 
bcrartigc  ©cfe^e  legen  bcm  öi'trgcr  gewiffe  Sdjranfen  an  «nb  berauben  i£)a  mancher 
9lcd)tc,  bic  er  fonft  befi^t.  9l(lein  es  fie()t  nun  einmal  ber  £cgiö(atur  ju,  gemein fd)äblid^c 
<&anblungcn,  wetrije  bie  öffentlid)cn  Sitten  »crberbcn  unb  beu  Stieben  unb  bie  gute  Drb; 
nung  bcr  ©cfcllfc^aft  llören,  ju  »erbieten.  SBeldjc  >§anblungen  aber  alä  foldje  ju  betrac^« 
ten  finb,  baä  ^at  nur  allein  bie  Segi^latur  ju  beftimmcn. 

„3.  ffioobwarb  (im  $roje§  »on  ^ofinfion  gegen  (Sunn,  10  ^ar.,  102)  fagt:  ,,'Da« 
9led)t  beä  (^amilieuüatcrg,  feine  Äinbcr  in  gejiemeubcr  (Sbrerbietung  gegen  bic  iSinric^» 
tungen  bed  Stjriftcntljumö  ju  crjieljen,  ot^ne  bap  fte  genöt^igt  finb,  Seugcn  fleter  lieber: 
tretung  cincö  djrifttic^en  ©runbgefet^c^  ju  fein,  baä  9led)r,  beu  ^rieben  unb  bie  gute  Orb» 
nung  bcr  ®efcllfd)aft,  fowie  bic  erl)öl)te  Sid;er^eit  »on  geben  unb  (Sigent^um  ju  genießen, 
wcld)e  auä  einer  angemeffenen  Sonntaggfeicr  crwädjft;  baä  gtedjt  be6  2lrmen,  ol)nc  91b: 
j,ug  an  feinem  ?ot)nc  »on  feiner  9trbeit  ju  ruf)n,  baö  3ted}t  felbft  beö  j:i}icreö  auf  bie 
9luf)e,  welche  feine  91atur  erforbert— fiub  wirtlidje  unb  wcfeutlid;e  ülec^te,  unb  jinb 
cbenfowobt  ®egcniianb  beö  Sd)u|cö  ber  ülegicrung,  wie  irgenb  ein  anbrcö  ^erfönlidjc^ 
ober  'i'igcntl}um^red}t." 

,,'^oä^,  man  fd}ü|t  ba3  Sfled)t  beö  SBi'trgerö  »or,  ben  Sonntag  »iclmel)r  a(ö  einen  ffag 
bcr  ör()o(ung  unb  bcö  93ergnügent5  anjufel)en,  benu  aU  einen  !Jag  ber  9luf)e  unb  bcö  ®otj 
tedbienjieö.  gjlan  fagt  ferner,  Seber,  bcr  bicfer  9lnitd}t  jugetl;an  fei,  ifube  a\iä)  baö  öicc^t, 
if)r  gemäfi  ju  Ijanbcln  unb  fomit  fid)  unfc^utbigen  93ergnüguugcn  unb  (Srbclungömittetn 
l)injugeben.  fSiefem  Sa|  finbcn  wir  nidjt  für  nöt^^ig  gu  wibcrfpredjen.  2lber  wer  fjat  ju 
entfd)citen,  welche  93crgnügungcn  unb  Stiele  unfd)ulbig  fiub,  bag  ifi:  feinen  fd)äb(ic^cn 
(Siufiug  auf  bie  ©efellfc^aft  üben,  bie  ijffentlid}C  SRulje  unb  StiUc  nid^t  fiijrcn,  unb  beu 
cbenfo  geheiligten  ®cwif|cn3rcd)ten  9lnbcrcr  feinen  (äintrag  t^un  ?  2)arf  nidjt  Pie  Scgiöä 
tatur  erflären,  wetdje  (Srfjclungömittet  gcfc|lid)  erlaubt  fiub,  unb  we(d)e  nidjt?  2öenn 
eine  SDicngc  SDlcnfc^en  am  Sonntag  in  einem  itljcatcr  unb  bcn  bamit  »erbunbencu  S^riuf; 
fiuben  jufammcnfirömt  unb  fid)  bcn  an  folc^cn  Orten  gcwöl)nlid)  »orfommenbcn  ©clegen; 
I;ettcn  unb  9lnläffen  jur  Unfeufd)^eit  unb  anbern  Saficrn  flingibt,  fo  ^At  bie  Segiötatur 


guten  ®nuit>  ju  cvftäi'cn,  ta^  tie^  mit  bcm  Stieben,  bcr  guten  Dcbuung  uub  bcv  t2id)cv; 
^eit  ber  Stabt  unuevtväiiliri}  fei.  ^a,  fic  würbe  üijllig  bcved;tigt  fein  ju  bev  2lnftri)t,  bag 
ein  fcld^ev  Drt  ,,cine  ^^ilanjftättc  be>5  fiaftevö  fei,  eine  fficvfdjule,  in  ber  junge  2)iänncr 
für  bcn  ®a(gcn  unb  junge  SBeiber  für  ba>J  Sorbett  J)ciangebitbct  »erben."  ©cd)  \\\\s 
immer  bie  ötnfidjt  ber  ScgifJlatnr  fjierüber  gewefen  fein  mag,  ber  ©egenjianb  tag  völlig  im 
S3ercid)  if)rcö  ISrmcJTenö  unb  Gntfdjeibenö,  unb  itjr  SBittc  nuip  atö  jureidjenber  ®runb  beö 
von  if)r  crtaffeucn  ©cfc^eö  gctten. 

,,2Benn  UMr  aud)  tvctlten,  fo  fönnten  wir  bod)  über  bie  (Sntfd)eibung  ber  Scgieitatur  nid}t 
ju  ®erid}t  fü^en,  ncd)  bie  3wecfmcigigfeit  if}rer  (5utfd)eibnng  in  3weifei  jiet)n  SBir  föu: 
neu  baö  nid}t  für  unfdjnlbig  erftärcn,  waö  fie  für  vcrberbliri)  crad)tet  unb  bcgljatb  verboten 
l)at.  2)a3  fragtidje  ®cfc|,  crftärt  im  ®runbc  blop,  ba^  ein  ©onntagöttjeater  etwaiJ  ^Jln= 
^öpigcö  (a  nuisance)  fei,  unb  bet}anbelt  eö  bemgemäp.  !Dic  9]ierfaffung  l)at  fold}e  %\{k 
»orgefe(}en,  inbem  ftc  beftimmt,  „bie  ®eUMffenöfrcif)cit  fotle  nid)t  fo  gebeutet  werben,  aliJ 
ob  bamit  ©ittentoftgfeit  cntfd;utbigt  ober  ®ewoI)nt)eiten  gered)tfertigt  werben  bürften, 
Wctd^e  fid)  mit  bcm  ^rieben  unb  ber  ©idjert^eit  bcö  Staate^  nid)t  vertragen."  2Beuu  nun 
bieSegietatur  erftärt,  (gonntag^t(;eater  get)iivten  tu  bie  ebengenanntc  Äatcgorie,  fo  fvrid)t 
fte  bamit  ein  Urttjeit  au^,  weld)CiJnnr  iijx  atleiu  ju|^ef)t.  S)aö  ®efe^  i|l  offenbar  ber  93er= 
faffung  gemäf ,  inbem  c^  fid)  mit  bem  ©onntag  nur  infofern  befdjiiftigt,  alö  er  eine  bür; 
gerlid)C  unb  v>olitifd)e  Snflitution  ift,  o^nc  irgeubwic  religiöfcn  ®lauben  unb  ®ctteii5bienji 
JU  bcrü()ren. 

„©er  auf  ®runb  btcfeö  ©cfe^eö  gcfäftte  Urtlicitt?fprud)  iji  fomit  ein  gercd}ter  unb  mu^ 
bcptigt  werben." 


Doc.  No.  XVII. 

THE   SABBATH  IN  WAR. 


The  recent  Document  of  the  Sabbath  Committee  was  enti- 
tled "  The  Civil  Sabbath  Restored.''''  The  imanimity  and  strength 
of  public  sentiment  evinced  in  popular  demonstrations  of 
different  nationalities,  by  the  Press,  by  Legislative  votes,  by 
the  decisions  of  Courts  and  Juries,  and  by  the  action  of  Police 
autliorities,  and  the  consequent  suppression  of  the  most  offen- 
sive forms  of  Sabbath  desecration,  seemed  to  justify  the  claim 
that  this  great  bulwark  of  morals  and  self-government  liad 
been  reestablislied.  But  civil  war,  in  its  wide  sweep  of  evils, 
so  involves  this  important  interest  as  to  constrain  some  pre- 
caution, lest,  in  the  patriotic  struggle  for  the  security  and 
perpetuity  of  our  free  institutions,  there  should  be  a  fatal 
weakening  of  their  permanent  moral  foundations.  If  we 
would  save  our  country  we  must  liold  fast  to  our  Sabbath. 

No  just  interpretation  of  the  law  of  the  Sabbath  would  ap- 
ply its  provisions  to  the  emergencies  in  individual  or  national 
life  which  involve  vital  interests  and  necessitate  a  resort  to 
"  the  first  law  of  nature."  "  The  Lord  of  tlie  Sabbath  "  has 
placed  this  (piestion  beyond  a  doubt,  by  miracle  and  by  ex- 
press instruction.  All  that  is  necessary  to  the  public  safety  in 
the  gathering  of  troops  and  the  movement  of  armies  is  inno- 
cent because  of  the  necessity.  And  among  a  Sabbath-loving  and 
a  Sabbath-keeping  people,  there  may  well  be  a  charitable  judg- 
ment of  any  seeming  latitude  in  the  use  of  sacred  time  for  war- 
like preparations  in  a  season  of  unparalleled  patriotic  enthusi- 
asm, aroused  by  the  sudden  apprehension  of  overwhelming 
national  dangers. 

But  war  does  not  repeal  the  law  of  the  Sabbath.  It  remains 
written  on  the  muscles  and  nerves  that  wield  the  weapons  of 
the  battle-field.  It  is  inscribed  on  the  moral  nature  of  every 
competent  volunteer.  It  flames  from  every  scjldier's  knapsack 
which  contains  —  as  every  knapsack  should  —  the  Book  of 
books.  It  influences  the  plans  and  the  orders  of  every  wise 
General  in   the  army  of  a  Christian  Republic.     Beyond  the 


2  ■     '  THE    SAIUJATII    IN    WAll. 

line  of  Jieeessity,  mercy,  and  .self-defence,  the  blessings  and 
restraints  of  the  Sabbath  should  visit  and  control  the  camp, 
as  they  comfort  and  overshado\v  the  ])eacefnl  abodes  of  un- 
armed citizens.  Thns  Jiiay  a  citizen-soldiery  escajje  the  [le- 
culiar  temptations  of  the  tented-tield  ;  be  nerved  for  lieroic 
deeds;  and  return  to  tlieir  liomes  Avith  such  after  record  of 
their  history  as  is  given  of  (Jromwell's  army  of  Christian  vete- 
rans :  "Fifty  thousand  men,  accustomed  to  the  profession  of 
arms,  were  at  once  thrown  on  tlie  world.  In  a  few  months 
tliere  remained  not  a  trace  indicating  that  the  most  formidable 
army  in  the  world  had  been  absorbed  into  tlie  mass  of  com- 
munity. Tlie  i-oyalists  themselves  confessed  that,  in  every 
dei^irtment  of  honest  industry,  tlie  discarded  warrior  prosper- 
ed beyond  other  men,  that  none  was  charged  with  any  theft 
or  robbery,  that  none  was  heard  to  ask  an  alms,  and  that,  if 
a  baker,  a  mason,  or  a  Avagoner,  attracted  notice  by  his  dili- 
gence and  sobriety,  he  was  in  all  probability  one  of  Olivers 
old  soldiers.'' 

An  illustrious  ])recedent  for  res]>ectiiig  the  sanctity  of  the 
Sabbath  in  the  camp,  and  for  discountenancing  the  vices  con- 
nected with  its  desecration,  is  furnished  in  our  Revolutionary 
history.  While  the  American  army,  about  20,000  strong,  was 
defending  New  York  city  against  oO,000  British  troo})s, 
(■rKNKKAr,  WAsniNcrroN  issued  the  following  "general  order," 
Aug.  ;kl,  17T0: 

"  7'liut  tlic  troopK  iiniii  haue  an  oiii>urlHn'iti/  of  atUndbnj  pnlilic  irora/tip.  c.«  wefl 
as  to  fake  Kome  rest  after'  the.  f/rcot  faiujue  then  ^"^ve  gone  throiiffh,  the  (hucral,  in 
future,  excuses  them  ffom  fatigue  dutt/  on  Sniidays,  except  at  tlu'  ship-j-ards,  or 
on  spcfial  occasions,  until  fiirthcr  orders.  The  f-'eneral  is  sorry  to  be  intbrmed, 
that  the  foolish  and  wicked  |(ractice  of  profane  cursing-  and  swearing-,  a  vice 
hitlierto  little  known  iti  an  Anierieau  army,  is  growing-  into  fasiiiori.  lie  hopes 
the  otKt-ers  will,  by  example  as  well  as  influence,  endeavor  to  check  it.  and  that 
both  tliey  and  the  men  will  reflect  that  we  can  have  little  ho])e  of  the  blessing-  of 
Heaven  on  our  arms,  if  we  iusidt  it  l)y  our  impiety  aiul  tbUy.  Added  to  this,  it 
is  a  vice  so  mean  ami  low,  without  any  temjttation.  that  every  mau  of  sense  and 
character  detests  and  despises  it." — \SparkH  U'ritiiu/.t  of  Wasliinqtov,  Vol.  iv., 
p.  28. 

But,  whatever  may  be  the  i-ule  for  the  camp,  duty  and  safe- 
ty alike  require  increased  guards  against  Sabbath  profanations 
among  civilians  in  the  time  of  war.  Never  more  than  when 
cxtraordinarv  cares  and  excitements  almost  madden  the  brain 


THE    SAUBATII   IX   WAR.  6 

and  the  deepest  passions  of  the  soul  surge  like  tlie  ocean,  are 
the  still  Sabbath  hours  needed  to  restore  exhausted  natures, 
cahn  the  fevered  pulse,  and  conipose  the  perturbed  spirit. 
That  patriotism  will  burn  brightest  and  last  longest  whicl^i 
kindles  its  tires  and  renews  while  it  chastens  its  inspirations 
at  the  altars  of  God. 

And  Society  preeminently  needs  the  protection  of  the  civil 
Sabbath  during  the  struggle  which  is  to  decide  our  national 
destiny.  The  tendencies  of  war  are  in  the  direction  of  de- 
moralization and  lawlessness.  Intemperance,  profanity,  Sab- 
bath-breaking and  kindred  vices  follow  in  its  train.  Plots 
against  the  public  peace  and  safety  multiply.  Tlie  day  of 
popiüar  leisure  becomes  the  day  of  popular  danger,  unless 
laws  guarding  it  from  temptation  and  folly  are  discreetly  but 
firmly  enforced,  with  the  approbation  and  support  of  all  law 
abiding  citizens. 

It  is  to  bespeak  the  cooperation  (»f  civil  and  military  au- 
thorities, and  of  good  citizens  generally,  in  support  of  the 
orderly  observance  of  the  Lord's  day,  that  this  brief  appeal 
is  respectfully  issued.  In  our  struggle  for  the  preservation  of 
our  Government,  as  in  that  for  its  Independence,  we  "  can 
have  little  hope  of  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  our  arms,  if 
we  insult  it  by  our  impiety  and  folly.''  But,  whether  the 
war  shall  be  brief  or  protracted,  if  the  "  Sign"  of  God's  favor 
and  of  our  fidelity  shall  abide,  the  blessings  associated  with 
it  in  promise,  prophecy  and  providence  shall  be  perpetuated 
through  coming  generations  of  prosperity  and  peace. 

NORMAN  WHITE,  Cliairman. 

HENRY  J.  RAKER,  HORACE  HOLDEN,  1 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D.,  JNO.  E.  PARSONS.  }    ^ 

NATHAN  BISHOP,  GUSTAV  SCHWAfJ.  I    .:§ 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  WM.  A.  SMITH,  j    I 

ROBERT  CARTER,  OTIS  D.  SWAN,  [  ^1 

AVARREN  CARTER.  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS,        W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
E.  L.  FANCHER,  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER,  F.  S.  WINSTON, 

DAVID  HOADLEY,  0.  E.  WOOD,  J 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recordinr/  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Chrrexponding  St^-retary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (Presideut  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treasurer: 
OßtyoftheS»hh(iUi  Cominittce,  Xo.  -21  Tilbh-Ihnii^e,  NdvYorlc. 


Suggestive  Facts  from  Military  Experience. 

From  the  Boston  Pont. 
"  Sunday  at  Fort  Warren.  An  order  was  issued  by  General  Andrews  forbid- 
ding the  admission  of  visitors  to  the  fort  on  Sunday  last.  As  a  consequence, 
according  to  the  report  of  the  officer  of  the  day,  '  the  day  passed  off  very  quietly 
and  orderly,  and  seemed  more  like  the  Sabbath  than  any  since  I  have  been  here,' 
On  Sunday  evening  Colonel  Webster  and  the  officers  of  the  12th  Regiment  sent 
tlie  following  letter : 

'Head  Quarters  12th Regiment,  Inkantrv.  ) 
Sunday  Evening,  June  9,  1861.  \ 

Brig.-Gen.  Andrews  :  My  Dear  Sir, — It  gives  me  sincere  pleasure  to  join  with 
the  officers  of  this  regiment  in  offering  you  thanks  for  the  pleasant,  quiet,  and 
home-like  Sunday  which  has  just  closed. 

It  has  been  a  day  of  most  welcome  rest  to  us  all ;  it  has  remiuded  us  of  those 
scenes  and  associations,  and  those  duties  which  in  camp  life  are  apt  to  be  for- 
gotten, and  we  have  all  felt  that  its  influence  has  been  most  beneficial. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Fletcher  Webster,  Col.  12th  Regiment.'  " 

More  and  belter  icork  with  iveeklt/  rest.  William  Wilbferforce  states  that  "  Dur- 
ing the  war,  it  was  proposed  to  work  all  Sunday  in  one  of  the  royal  manufac- 
tories, for  continuance,  not  for  occasional  service ;  and  it  was  found  that  the 
workmen  who  obtained  Government's  consent  to  abstain  from  working  on  Sun- 
days executed  more  Work  than  the  others." 

Captain  Stanbury,  the  leader  of  the  United  States  Surveying  expedition  to  the 
region  of  the  Salt  Lake,  in  his  official  report  to  the  Government,  bears  this  tes- 
timony to  the  value  of  the  Sabbatli :  "  I  here  beg  to  record,  as  the  result  of  my 
experience  derived  not  only  from  my  present  journey,  but  from  the  observation 
of  many  years  spent  in  the  performance  of  similar  duties,  that  as  a  mere  matter 
of  pecuniary  consideration,  apart  from  all  higher  obligations,  it  is  wise  to  keep 
the  Sabbath.  More  work  can  be  obtained  from  both  men  and  animals  by  its 
observance,  than  where  the  whole  seven  daj-s  are  uninterruptedly  devoted  to 
labor," 

The  commander  of  the  forces  on  the  Northern  frontier,  d\iring  the  last  war 
stated  tliat,  when  building  vessels,  making  roads,  and  performing  other  labori- 
ous service,  it  was  not  profitable  to  employ  the  men  on  the  Sabbatli,  for  it  was 
found  that  they  could  not,  in  the  course  of  the  week  do  as  much  work. 

Tlie  Minister  of  Marine,  in  France,  has  addressed  a  letter  to  all  the  Maritime 
Prefects,  directing  that  no  workman,  except  in  case  of  absolute  necessity,  be 
employed  in  tlie  government  dock-yard  on  the  Sabbatli,  for  the  reason  that  men 
Avho  do  not  rest  on  the  Sabbath  do  not  perform  as  much  labor  during  the  week, 
and  that  thus  it  is  not  profitable  to  the  State  to  have  labor  performed  on  that  day. 

Good  Morals  and  tue  Sabbath.  The  late  Justice  McLean,  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  said  :  "  Where  there  is  no  Christian  Sabbatli,  there  is  no  Chris- 
tian Morality :  and  without  this,  free  government  cannot  long  be  sustained." 

CiiiEK  Justice  Hale,  of  England,  said  at  the  close  of  his  long  career:  "  Of  all 
the  persons  who  Avere  convicted  of  capital  crimes  when  I  was  on  the  bench,  I 
found  few  only  who  would  not  confess,  on  inquiry,  that  tliey  began  their  wicked- 
ness by  a  neglect  of  the  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  and  vicious  Conducton  that  day." 

The  Police  Records  of  the  City  of  New  York  show  that  during  eighteen 
months  previous  to  the  closing  of  the  Sunday  Dram-shops  the  arrests  for  drunk- 
enness and  crime  were  25  per  cent  more  on  the  Sabbatli  than  on  the  average  of 
the  other  days  of  the  week  ;  but  when  they  were  closed,  Sunday  arrests  were 
forty  percent,  /ess  than  other  days,  during  a  similar  period  of  eigiiteen  months, 
— an  absolute  diminution  of  5,020  in  the  Sunday  arrests. 


Sab  Com    Doc  XVIII. 


Constitutional  Basis  of  oiir  Sunday  Laws. 

Decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  February  Term,  186],  Justices 
Gierke.   Siitherland  and  Allen. 


Ill  the  case  of  Gustav  Lindenmuller,  Plaintiff  in  Error,  vs.  The 
People,  Defendants  in  Error,  convicted  under  the  Act  of  April,  1860,  of 
giving  dramatic  representations  on  Sunday  ;  the  opinion  of  the  Court  was 
given  May  29,  '61.  As  the  test  case,  and  as  involving  important  principles, 
the  following  abstract  of  the  views  of  the  Court  will  command  deserved 
attention  and  general  approbation.  The  full  opinion  is  very  elaborate 
and  voluminous.     Judge  Allen  is  understood  to  be  its  author. 

Allen  J. — Christianity  is  part  of  the  common  law  of  this  State,  in  the  quali- 
fied sense  that  it  is  entitled  to  respect  and  protection  as  the  acknowledged 
religion  of  the  people.  The  right  of  unconstrained  religious  belief,  and  the 
proper  expression  of  it,  is  guaranteed  to  all ;  but  it  must  be  exercised  with  strict 
regard  to  the  equal  rights  of  others  ;  and  when  belief  or  unbelief  leads  to  acts 
which  interfere  with  the  rights  of  conscience  of  those  who  represent  the  religion 
of  the  country  as  established — not  by  law,  but  by  immemorial  consent  and 
usage — their  acts  may  be  restrained  by  legislation.  If  Christianity  were  estab- 
lished by  law,  it  would  be  a  civil  or  political  institntion,  which  it  is  not.  It  is  in 
fact  the  religion  of  the  people,  and  ever  has  been,  and  has  been  so  recognized 
from  the  first  by  constitutional  conventions,  legislatures,  and  courts  of  justice. 

It  is  not  disputed  that  Christianity  is  a  part  of  the  common  law  of  England. 
By  the  Constitution  of  1V77,  the  common  law  as  it  was  then  in  force,  subject  to 
legislative  changes,  and  with  specified  exceptions,  was,  and  ever  has  been  a  part 
of  the  law  of  this  State.  Tlie  claim  that  the  constitutional  guarantees  of  reli- 
gious liberty  arc  inconsistent  with  the  recognition  of  Christianity  as  the  religion 
of  the  people,  is  repelled  by  the  known  character  and  history  of  the  fi'amers  of  the 
Constitution.  They  would  not  sacrifice  their  freedom  or  their  religion.  They 
and  their  forefathers  were  the  friends  and  champions  of  both. 

In  the  several  Constitutions  of  1777,  1821,  and  1846,  and  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  constitutional  conventions,  there  are  abundant  provisions  and  recitals  very 
clearly  recognizing  some  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Christian  religion — 
embodying  the  common  fiiith  of  the  community  with  its  ministers  and  ordi- 
nances, existing  without  the  aid  of  or  political  connection  with  the  State ;  but 
as  intimately  connected  with  a  good  government,  and  the  only  sure  basis  of 
sound  morals.  These  conventions  also  opened  their  meetings  with  prayer,  ob- 
served the  Cliristian  Sabbath,  and  excepted  that  day  from  the  time  allowed  to 
the  Governor  for  returning  bills  to  the  Legislature. 

The  recognition  of  different  denominations  of  Christians  docs  not  detract  from 
the  force  of  the  recognition  of  Christianity  as  the  religion  of  the  people ;  but  was 
intended  to  prevent  the  unnatural  connection  between  Church  and  State.  It 
was  believed  that  Christianity  would  bo  purer  and  more  prosperous  by  leaving 


2 

the  individual  coascicnce  Irt-c  niid  untrammelled;  and  "wisdom  is  justified  of 
her  children  "  in  the  experiment;  which  could  hardly  be  said  if  blaspliemy, 
sabbath-breaking,  and  kindred  vices  were  protected  by  the  Constitution.  They 
prohibited  a  church  establishment,  and  left  every  man  free  to  worship  God  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience,  or  not  to  v/orship,  as  he  pleases. 
But  they  did  not  suppose  they  Jiad  abolished  the  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  rest  for  all, 
and  of  Christian  wortfhip  for  those  who  were  disposed  to  engage  in  it,  or  deprived 
themselves  of  the  power  to  i>rotect  religious  worshippers  from  unseemly  inter- 
ruptions. Compulsory  worship  is  prohibited  and  religious  opinion  is  beyond 
the  reach  of  law  ;  but  this  liberty  of  conscience  is  entirely  consistent  with  the 
existence  in  fact  of  the  Christian  religion,  entitled  to  and  enjoying  the  protection 
of  the  law.  The  public  peace  and  safety  are  greatly  dependent  upon  the  pro- 
tection of  the  religion  of  the  country,  and  the  preventing  and  i)imishing  of 
offences  against  it,  and  acts  subversive  of  it.  The  claim  of  the  defense,  carried 
to  its  necessary  sequence,  is,  that  the  Bible  and  religion  with  all  its  ordinances, 
including  llic  Sabbath,  are  as  effectually  abolished  as  they  were  in  the  Revolu- 
tion of  France,  and  so  effectually  abolished  that  duties  may  not  be  enforced  as 
duties  to  the  State,  because  thej'^  have  been  heretofore  associated  with  acts  of 
religious  worshij)  or  connected  with  religious  duties. 

The  opinion  proceeds  to  cite  the  decisions  in  our  own  and  other  State  Courts 
in  support  of  the  views  expressed,  and  shows  that  in  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion of  1S21,  the  question  was  intelligently  discussed  and  settled  by  our  most 
eminent  jurists,  so  as  to  make  the  interpretation  of  Chancellor  Kent,  in  the  case 
of  The  People  vn.  Ruggles — that  the  Christian  religion  was  the  law  of  the  land, 
in  the  sense  that  it  was  preferred  over  all  other  religions,  and  entitled  to  the  re- 
cognition and  protection  of  the  temporal  courts  as  the  common  law  of  the  State 
— {jie  fixed  meaning  of  the  Constitution.  The  Christian  Sabbath,  as  one  of  the 
institutions  of  that  religion,  may  be  protected  from  desecration  by  such  laws  as 
the  legislature  may  deem  necessary  to  secure  to  the  community  the  privilege  of 
undisturbed  worship,  and  to  the  da}'  itself  that  outward  respect  and  observance 
which  may  be  deemed  essential  to  the  peace  and  good  order  of  society  ;  and  this 
not  as  a  duty  to  God,  but  as  a  dutj-^  to  society  and  to  the  State.  Upon  this 
ground  the  law  in  question  could  be  sustained  ;  for  the  legislature  are  the  sole 
judges  of  the  acts  to  be  prohibited  with  a  view  to  the  public  peace,  and  as  olj- 
stru^ting  religious  worship,  or  bringing  into  contempt  the  religious  institutions 
of  the  people. 

CIVIL    BASIS    OF    SUNDAY   LAWS.  . 

As  a  civil  and  political  institution,  the  esüiblishuient  and  regulation  of  a  Sab- 
bath is  within  the  just  i)Ower  of  the  civil  government.  Older  than  our  govern- 
ment, the  framers  of  the  Constitution  did  not  abolish,  alter,  or  weaken  its  sanc- 
tion, but  recognized,  as  they  might  othervvisa  have  established  it.  It  is  a  law 
of  our  nature  that  one  da}^  in  seven  should  be  observed  as  a  time  of  relaxation, 
and  experience  proves  a  day  of  weekly  rest  to  be  "  of  admirable  service  to  a 
State,  considered  merely  as  a  civil  institution."  (-f-  Bl.  Com.  (53.)  Physical  laws 
accord  with  the  decalogue.  All  interests  reijuire  national  uniformity  in  the  day 
observed,  and  that  its  observance  should  be  so  far  compulsory  as  to. protect  those 
who  desire  and  are  entitled  to  the  day. 

As  a  civil  institution,  the  sanction  of  the  day  is  at  the  option  of  the  legislature ; 
but  it  is  fit  that  the  Christian  Sabbath  should  be  observed  by  a  Christian  people, 
and  it  does  not  detract  from  the  moral  or  legal  sanction  of  a  Statute  that  it 


conforms  tp  the  law  of  God,  as  recognizöd  by  the  great  majority  of  the  people. 
Existing  here  by  common  law,  all  that  the  legislatui-e  attempts  to  do  is  to  regu- 
late its  observance.  The  common  law  recognizes  the  day  ;  contracts,  land  re- 
demption, etc.,  maturing  on  Sunday,  must  be  performed  on  Saturday  or 
Monday.  -Judicial  acts  on  the  Sabbath  are  mostly  illegal.  "Work  done  on 
Sunday  cannot  be  recovered  for,  etc. 

The  Christian  Sabbath  is,  then,  one  of  the  civil  institutions  of  the  State,  to 
which  the  business  and  duties  of  life  are  by  the  common  law  made  to  conform 
and  adapt  themselves.  Nor  is  it  a  violation  of  the  rights  of  conscience  of  any 
that  the  Sabbath  of  the  people,  immemorially  enjoyed,  sanctioned  by  common 
law,  and  recognized  in  the  Constitution,  should  be  respected  and  protected  by 
the  law-making  power. 

The  existence  of  the  Sabbath  as  a  civil  institution  being  conceded,  as  it  must 
be,  the  right  of  the  legislature  to  control  and  regulate  it  and  its  observance  is  a 
neccssaiy  seqvtcnce.  Precedents  are  found  in  the  statutes  of  every  government 
really  or  nominally  Christian,  from  the  peiiod  of  Athelstan  to  the  present  day. 
Even  the  "  Book  of  Spoi'ts  "  of  James  I.,  to  which  our  attention  has  been  called, 
prohibited  as  unlawful  certain  games  and  sports  on  Sunday — "  iiiterludes " 
included :  so  that  Lindenmuller's  theatre  would  have  been  proscribed  even  by 
tlie  Royal  "  Book  of  Sports." 

Nearly  all  the  States  of  the  Union  have  passed  laws  against  sabbath-breaking 
and  prohibiting  secular  pursuits  on  that  day ;  and  in  none  have  they  been  held 
repugnant  to  the  Constitution,  with  the  exception  of  California ;  while  in  most 
States  the  legislature  has  been  upheld  by  the  Courts  and  sustained  by  well- 
reasoned  opinions. 

As  tlie  Sabbath  is  older  than  the  government,  and  has  been  legislated  upon 
by  colonial  and  early  State  authorities,  if  there  were  any  doubt  about  the  mean- 
ing of  the  Constitution  securing  freedom  in  religion,  the  cotemporaneous  and 
continued  acts  of  the  legislature  under  it  would  be  very  good  evidence  of  the 
intent  of  its  framers,  and  of  the  people  Avho  adopted  it  as  their  fundamental  law. 
From  17S8,  downward,  various  statutes  have  been  in  force  to  prevent  Sabbath 
desecration,  and  prohibiting  acts  upon  that  day  which  would  have  been  lawful 
on  other  days.  Early  in  the  history  of  the  State  government,  the  objections 
made  to  the  act  of  18G0  were  taken  before  the  .Council  of  Revision  to  an  act 
which  undertook  to  regulate  Sabbath  observance.  The  Council  overruled  the 
objections,  and  held  them  not  well  taken.  The  act  now  complained  of  compels 
ho  religious  observance,  and  offences  against  it  are  punishable  not  as  sins 
against  God,  but  as  injurious  to  society.  It  rests  upon  the  same  foundation  as 
a  multitude  of  other  statutes — such  as  those  against  gambling,  lotteries,  horse- 
racing,  etc. — laws  which  do  restrain  the  citizen  and  deprive  him  of  some  of  his 
rights ;  but  the  legislature  have  the  right  to  prohibit  acts  injurious  to  the  ])ub- 
lic,  subversive  of  the  government,  and  which  tend  to  the  destruction  of  the 
morals  of  the  people,  and  to  disturb  the  peace  and  good  order  of  society.  It  is 
exclusively  for  the  legislature  to  determine  what  acts  should  be  prohibited  as 
dangerous  to  the  community.  Give  every  one  what  are  claimed  as  natural 
rights,  and  the  list  of  mala  prohihita  of  every  civilized  State  would  disappear, 
and  civil  offences  would  be  confined  to  those  acts  which  are  mala  in  sc  ;  and  a 
man  may  go  naked  through  the  etreets,  establish  houses  of  prostitution,  and 
keep  a  faro  table  on  every  street  corner.  This  would  be  repugnant  to  every 
idea  of  a  civilized  government.  It  is  the  right  of  the  citizen  to  be  protected 
from  offences  against  decency  and  against  acts  which  tend  to  corrupt  the  morals 


and  debase  tfic  moral  sense  of  the  community.  It  is  the  rij^ht  of  the  citizen 
that  the  Sabbath,  as  a  civil  institution,  should  be  kept  in  a  way  not  inconsistent 
with  its  purpose  and  the  necessity  out  ol'  which  it  grew  as  a  day  of  rest,  rather 
than  as  a  day  of  riot  and  disorder,  which  would  be  to  overthrow  it  and  render 
it  a  curse  rather  than  a  blessing. 

But  it  is  urged  that  it  is  the  right  of  the  citizen  to  i-egard  the  Sabbath  as  a 
day  of  innocent  recreation  and  amusement.  Who,  then,  is  to  judge  and  decide 
what  amusements  and  pastimes  are  innocent,  as  having  no  direct  or  indirect 
baneful  iniluence  upon  community ;  as  not  in  any  way  disturbing  the  peace 
and  quiet  of  the  public ;  as  not  interfering  with  the  equally  sacred  rights  of 
conscience  of  others  ?  May  not  the  legislature,  like  James  I.  cited  to  us  as  a 
precedent,  declare  what  recreations  are  lawful  and  what  arc  not  lawi'ul,  as  tend- 
ing to  a  breach  of  the  peace,  or  a  corruption  of  the  morals  of  the  people  ?  That 
is  not  innocent  which  may  operate  injuriously  upon  the  morals  of  old  or  young, 
which  tends  to  interrupt  the  quiet  worship  of  the  Sabbath,  and  which  griev- 
ously oftends  the  moral  sense  of  the  community,  and  thus  tends  to  a  breach  of 
the  peace.  Tt  may  well  be  that  the  legislature  thought  that  a  Sunday 
theatre,  Mith  its  drinking  saloons  and  its  usual  inducements  to  licentiousness 
and  other  kindred  vices,  was  not  consistent  with  the  peace,  good  order,  and 
safety  of  the  city.  They  might  well  be  of  the  ojjinion  that  such  a  place  would 
be  "a  nursery  of  vice,  a  school  of  preparation  to  qualify  young  men  for  the 
gallows  and  young  women  for  the  brothel."  IJut  whatever  the  reason  may  have 
been,  it  was  a  matter  within  the  legislative  discretion  and  power,  and  thcii-  will 
must  stand  as  the  reason  of  the  law. 

We  could  not,  if  we  would,  declare  that  innocent  which  they  have  adjudged 
baneful,  and  have  so  prohibited.  The  act  in  substance  declares  a  Sunday  the- 
atre to  be  a  nuisance,  and  deals  with  it  as  such.  The  Constitution  provides  for 
this  case,  by  declaring  that  the  liberty  of  conscience  secured  by  it  "  shall  not 
be  so  construed  as  to  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness,  or  justify  practices  incon- 
sistent with  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  State."  The  legislature  place  Simday  the- 
atres in  this  category,  and  they  ai'c  the  sole  judges.  The  act  is  clearly  consti- 
tutional as  dealing  with  and  having  respect  to  the  Sabbath  as  a  civil  and  i)oliti- 
cal  institution,  and  not  affecting  to  interfere  with  religious  belief  or  worship, 
faith  or  practice. 

It  was  conceded  upon  the  argument  that  the  legislature  could  entirely  pro- 
hibit theatrical  exhibitions.  This,  I  think,  yields  the  whole  argument ;  lor,  as 
the  whole  includes  all  its  parts,  the  power  of  total  suppression  includes  the 
power  of  regulation  and  partial  suppression. 

[Wc  omit  the  discussion  of  minor  cjuestions,  for  want  of  space.] 

The  conviction  was  right,  and  the  judgment  must  be  afifrmed. 


[DOC.  No.  XIX. 

Plea  for  the  Sabbath  in  War. 


CHKiSTiAisr  Patriots  are  solicitous  that  the  existing  war  may  be  so 
conducted  as  to  secure  the  right  of  our  citizen  soldiers  to  their  wont- 
ed day  of  rest  and  worship,  and  so  as  to  avoid  all  needless  invasion 
of  public  morals.  A  jealous  care  for  the  permanent  moral  founda- 
tions of  our  free  institutions  should  assuredly  characterize  the  strug- 
gle for  their  perpetuation. 

The  movements  of  our  armies  are  familiarly  known.  For  some 
unexplained  reason,  they  have  too  commonly  trenched  on  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath.  The  engagement  at  Great  Bethel  began  on  Sunday 
night,  June  9.  The  great  battle  at  Bull  Run  was  fought  on  Sunday, 
July  21.  The  manoeuvres  of  the  army  of  the  Upper  Potomac  were 
mostly  on  Sunday.  Forts  and  Camps  have  been  made  the  places  of 
holiday  Sunday  resort  over  the  land ;  and  that  seems  to  have  been 
the  favorite  day  of  departure  from  the  army  depots  for  the  theatre 
of  war.  Take  the  following  itinerary  from  the  army  corresjiondence 
of  the  Times: 

"  I  presume  this  regiment  will  come  home  next  Sunday.  I  judge 
so  from  the  fact  that  most  of  its  movements  have  been  on  Sunday. 
It  left  New  York  on  Sunday — went  into  Virginia  on  Sunday — came 
back  on  Sunday — moved  to  Hagerstown  on  Stcnday — moved  to 
Bunker  Hill  on  Sunday — moved  to  Charlestown  on  Sunday — moved 
out  of  Harper's  Ferry  on  Sunday — and  I  presume  next  Sunday  will 
be  borrowed  to  end  the  campaign  on  Sunday.  Not  in  one  single 
instance  has  there  seemed  to  be  any  public  danger  or  necessity  to  call  for 
such  a  habitual  and  continuous  disregard  of  the  Sabbath  day.''"' 

The  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune  thus  comments  on 
the  same  facts :  "  TTie  Sabbath  has  been  signalized  throughout  the  cam- 
paign as  the  day  for  making  nearly  all  important  movements  of  the 
army  ;"  and  he  contrasts  the  Sunday  opening  and  closing  of  the 
campaign  :  "  Then  they  (the  soldiers)  were  impetuous  and  enthuas- 
tic :  now  they  are  returning  home  after  a  fruitless  campaign,"  etc. 

We  need  not  multiply  the  evidences  of  a  painful  disregard  of  the 
Lord's  Day  in  the  marshalling  and  manoeuvring  of  our  armies.  It 
does  not  become  us  to  comment  on  the  military  results  of  these 
movements.    "We  would  gladly  believe  that  military  necessities  more 


2  PLEA   FOR  THE   SABBATH   IN  WAR. 

obvious  than  those  that  meet  the  public  eye  have  constrained  some 
of  "  the  important  movements  of  the  army," — in  so  far  quaUfying 
the  testimony  quoted  above ;  and  Ave  would  have  it  borne  in  mind 
that  the  statements  before  us  mostly  relate  to  but  a  single  wing  of 
our  extended  forces.  But,  at  the  best,  it  is  a  sad,  ineffacable  record. 
Military  reverses  maybe  retrieved  and  turned  into  victories;  Chris- 
tian patriotism,  however,  can  only  deprecate  and  weep  over  the 
inconsistency  and  the  wrong  of  irreverent  dealing  with  an  institu- 
tion hallowed  by  the  most  sacred  associations,  at  the  very  outset  of 
a  conflict  in  which  the  best  sympathies  and  energies  of  the  Chris- 
tian community  are  enlisted.  We  do  but  echo  the  voice  of  Ameri- 
can Christianity  when  we  urge,  that  there  may  be  a  rcs-pectfvl  oh- 
servance  of  the  Lorcfs  Day  in  the  fntvre  conduct  of  the  armies  of 
this   Christian  Mepublic. 

The  mischievous  maxim — ler/es  silent  inter  or  ma:  laws  are  silent 
in  war — is  worthy  of  its  heathenish  Latin  oiigin  :  it  deserves  no 
place  in  the  ethics  of  a  Christian  Republic  ;  certainly  none  in  a  war 
"  to  restore  the  supremacy  of  the  laAvs."  War  is  enough  of  a 
scourge,  even  when  the  wonted  restraints  of  human  and  divine  laws 
continue  to  curb  evil  passions ;  but  under  free,  self-governing  insti- 
tutions, with  no  guarantee  but  law  for  individual  or  public  security, 
tlje  assertion  of  the  principle  that  war  absolves  from  legal  and  moral 
obligations  is  equivalent  to  the  claim  that  war,  anarchy,  barbarism, 
are  synonymous  terms.  We  know  of  no  adequate  authority  for 
singling  out  the  Christian  Sabbath  from  the  moral  code,  or  from  the 
civil  statutes,  as  preeminently  the  victim  of  war.  Is  it  because 
European  armies  have  made  it  their  battle-day  ?  True,  many  of 
the  great  battles  of  the  Continent  have  been  fought  on  Sunday,  by 
the  standing  armies  of  kings  and  emperors — often,  as  at  Waterloo, 
ending  in  the  defeat  of  the  assailing  army.  But  it  is  also  true,  that 
Sunday  is  the  favorite  day  for  military  reviews,  civic  parades,  and 
holiday  sports,  in  peace  as  in  war  ;  and  it  is  further  notoriously  true, 
that  the  nations  thus  habitually  trifling  with  sacred  time  furnish  no 
such  example  of  moral  or  political  advancement  as  to  commend 
their  no-Sunday  views  or  acts  to  our  emulation,  either  in  peace  or 
war.  Until  we  are  prepared  to  accept  their  despotic  forms  of  gov- 
ernment, and  their  vast  standing  armies,  and  their  depraved  condi- 
tion of  public  morals — the  necessary  correlatives  of  their  no-Sunday 
regime — we  see  not  that  it  is  safe  or  wise  to  plead  their  Sunday 
fighting  as  the  precedent  or  justification  of  our  needless  Sunday  war 
movements  and  battles.  It  is  certain  that  our  own  military  annals 
do  not  encourage  aggressive  warfare  on  the  Lord's  Day  :  for  it  Avas 
on  that  day  that  Montgomery  was  defeated  and  slain  at  Quebec  ; 
that  the  battle  of  Monmouth  was  waged  at  least  fruitlessly ;  that 


PLEA  FOR  THE  SABBATH    IN   WAR.  3 


/. 


the  engagement  on  Lake  Cliamplain  resulted  in  victory  to  the 
assailed  American  fleet ;  and  that  the  British  forces  were  routed  in 
their  attack  on  New  Orleans,  Great  Bethel  and  Bull  Run  are  of 
to-day. 

But  we  claim  no  warrant  from  these  or  other  data  for  inter- 
preting specific  providences  as  divine  judgments  on  specific  ofiences. 
Certain  great  principles  of  the  divine  economy  are  clearly  revealed 
in  the  Word,  and  illustrated  by  the  Providence  of  God.  The  whole 
scope  of  history  is  concurrent  with  the  recorded  design  of  Jehovah 
that  His  Name  and  His  Day  and  His  Son  should  be  known  and 
revered  among  men  and  nations.  He  reigns.  He  honors  those 
who  honor  Him.  His  frowns  rest  on  those  who  despise  His  will. 
"Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation;  but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any 
people."  Nations,  communities,  corporations  experience  an  earthly 
retribution  alone — mdividuals  meeting  their  several  deserts  at  the 
great  day  for  unrepented  complicity  with  associated  wrong-doing. 
We  would  not  presume  to  judge  of  the  sweep  of  such  principles  in 
their  application  to  specific  wrongs,  however  promptly  an  apparent 
disaster  may  follow  apparent  impiety  and  folly.  "  God  is  his  own  in- 
terpreter." We  dare  not  seek  to  penetrate  His  counsels,  or  inscribe 
His  thunderbolts.  We  do  not  feel  authorised  to  associate  Sunday  bat- 
tles with  Sunday  defeats,  and  "all  important  movements  of  the  army 
on  Sunday"  with  a  humiliating  "fruitless  campaign,"  as  unquestion- 
able judgments  of  Heaven:  nor  is  there  any  ivarrant  for  denying  that 
they  are.  But  we  have  an  undoubted  warrant  for  the  claim  that  the 
Lord's  Day  is  in  the  keeping  of  a  wise  and  holy  Providence ;  and 
that  men,  armies,  and  nations  trample  on  that  day  at  their 
peril. 

We  may  further  premise  that  we  cherish  no  views  of  the  sanctity 
of  the  Sabbath  that  would  restrain  an  ai-my  from  all  necessary 
arrangements  for  health  or  comfort,  or  for  its  own  and  the  public 
safety.  It  may  defend  itself  when  assailed,  and  march  troops  to 
reinforce  an  imperilled  position.  All  necessary  and  beneficent  acts, 
dictated  by  a  prudent  regard  for  the  national  security  and  the  well- 
being  of  the  army,  may  have  the  sanction  of  a  commanding  oificer, 
without  contravening  the  law  of  the  Sabbath.  Nor  will  the  thou- 
sand details  that  enter  into  the  administration  of  military  affairs  be 
diflacult  of  adjustment,  when  subordinated  to  a  wise  and  inflexible 
purpose  to  "  Remember  the  Sabbath-day." 

These  things  being  premised,  we  base  our  plea  for  the  due  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath  in  the  further  conduct  of  our  armies,  on  the 
broad  ground  of  the  physical  and  moral  needs  of  the  army ;  a  just 
respect  for  the  rights  and  feelings  of  the  Christian  community,  and, 


4  PLEA   FOR   THE   SABBATH   IN   WAR. 

more  than  all,  a  becoming  regard  for  the  Divine  Law  and  for  the 
favor  and  blessing  of  God. 

Our  soldiers  need  a  Sabbath.  The  drill  and  discij^line  of  the  camp, 
the  buUding  of  entrenchments,  the  marchings  and  coimtermarchings, 
the  picket,  scout,  and  guai-d  duties  of  an  army  in  the  field,  are  no 
holiday  pastimes.  There  is  hard  work  and  a  plenty  of  it;  and 
where  there  is  work  there  must  be  rest — periodical  rest.  It  remains 
to  be  proved  that  there  is  any  other  or  better  apportionment  of  time 
for  alternate  labor  and  rest  in  an  army  than  that  defined  by  in- 
finite wisdom  "for  man."  And  it  has  been  proved,  in  military  and 
civil  life,  that  men  will  do  more  and  better  work  in  six  days  of  labor 
and  one  of  rest,  than  in  the  entire  seven  days  of  unintermitted  toil. 
So  that  the  actual  efficiency  of  troops  is  not  only  consistent  with  the 
concession  of  their  right  to  a  weekly  rest-day,  biit  would  be  enhanced 
by  it.  Why,  then,  should  not  the  whole  army,  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances, have  a  whole  day  of  rest  every  week  ? 

But  an  American  army  is  composed  of  something  besides  "muscle." 
Our  bayonets  think.  There  are  moral  natures  to  be  moulded  or  re- 
strained by  influences  siiited  to  them,  or  perverted  and  ruined  by 
the  atmosphere  of  the  camp.  It  was  the  recorded  experience  of 
Washington  :  "  The  better  the  man  the  better  the  soldier."  The 
"  Army  Regulations "  recognize  this  principle,  and  embrace  many 
wise  provisions  for  the  moral  benefit  of  the  army,  including  those 
respecting  chaplains,  divine  worship,  reverent  speech,  sobriety,  etc. 
But  it  has  been  well  said  by  an  incumbent  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
that  "where  there  is  no  Christian  Sabbath  there  is  no  Christian  mo- 
rality." And  until  the  officers  of  the  army  seek  by  example  and 
regulation  to  bring  their  soldiers  under  the  instructions  and  restraints 
approjiriate  to  the  sacred  day,  they  have  little  right  to  expect  a  strict 
regard  for  discipline,  and  cannot  hope  for  that  principled  courage 
which  is  ever  invincible.  Then,  too,  the  peculiar  structure  of  our 
armies  presents  a  plea  for  Sabbath  privileges.  They  are  largely 
composed  of  the  sons  of  moral  and  religious  households.  In  a 
greater  degree  than  ever  before,  the  soldiers  themselves  are  Christian 
men.  Is  it  not  due  alike  to  them  and  their  friends,  that  among  the 
many  temptations  and  trials  of  the  camp,  this  heaven-appointed  safe- 
guard of  their  home  habits  and  of  their  faith  shall  not  be  taken  from 
them  ?  Nay,  is  it  not  due  to  the  tens  of  thousands  of  communities 
from  which  they  have  been  garnered  into  the  camp,  that  they  shall 
not  be  sent  back  at  last  a  Sabbath-breaking,  demoralized  band,  to 
scatter  broadcast  the  seeds  of  vice  and  iniquity  over  the  land  ? 
What  we  need,  and  what  the  material  of  our  forces  largely  provides 
for,  is  a  brave,  orderly,  well-disciplined,  law-abiding,  God-fearing 
army — an  army  that  neither  breaks  its  lines  nor  breaks  its  Sabbaths. 


PLEA   FOR  THE   SABBATH   IN   WAR.  0 

It  was  such  an  army  that  the  inspiring  "  general  order  "  of  Wash- 
ington contemplated  when  he  wrote,  July  9,  1776  : 

"  The  General  hopes  and  trusts  that  every  officer  and  man  will  en- 
deavor to  live  and  act  as  becomes  a  Christian  soldier,  defending  the 
dearest  rights  and  Uberties  of  his  country." 

But  the  honor  of  our  country  and  the  rights  of  Christian  citizens 
are  concerned  in  this  question.  This  is  a  Christian  nation  in  its  his- 
tory, civilization,  laws,  and  customs.  Christianity,  with  its  Sabbath, 
is  recognized  and  protected  as  the  prevailing  religion,  and  as  a  part 
of  the  common  law  of  the  land.  Sunday  observance  is  so  inwrought 
into  the  very  texture  of  our  pohtical,  social,  and  religious  life  as  to 
form  the  distinctive  national  feature,  in  the  view  of  foreign  immi- 
grants and  tourists. 

Should  not  this  great  fact  have  its  influence  on  our  army  of 
American  volunteers  ?  Why  should  the  military  arm  of  govern 
ment  set  at  naught  legislative  and  judicial  guards  of  public  morals ; 
disregard  the  common  law ;  and  ignore  the  cherished  rights  of 
Christian  citizens  ?  The  army  is  not  an  independent,  irresponsible 
body.  It  may  not  forget  the  character,  antecedents,  and  institu- 
tions of  the  country  it  defends.  It  embodies  the  power  and  upholds 
the  honor  and  rights  of  a  Chi'istian  people.  But  it  is  no  more  com- 
petent to  pollute  and  destroy  its  Sabbaths  than  to  burn  its  churches, 
or  confiscate  the  property,  or  incarcerate  the  persons  of  good  and 
loyal  citizens. 

The  impolicy  of  this  careless  dealing  with  sacred  time  would  seem 
to  be  obvious.  Does  it  not  directly  tend  to  impair  the  confidence 
and  support  of  a  vast  body  of  citizens,  whose  means  and  favor  the 
army  and  the  government  have  prodigally  shared,  and  whose  confi. 
dence  and  aid  they  can  ill  afibrd  to  lose  ?  Does  it  not  tend  to 
strengthen  rebellion,  by  its  apparent  justification  of  the  plea  of 
demagogues,  that  the  "  invasion "  of  the  South  is  by  "  infidel 
hordes,"  bringing  with  it  "  the  withering  influence  of  the  infidelity 
of  New  England  and  Germany  combined  ?  "  Is  it  good  generalship 
to  weaken  our  friends  and  strengthen  our  enemies  by  a  policy  that 
has  no  sanction  of  law,  conscience,  or  common  sense? 

But  it  is  as  wrong  as  it  is  impolitic.  It  is  wholly  inconsistent 
not  only  with  our  history,  genius  and  habits  as  a  people,  but  with 
the  avowed  objects  of  the  war.  Our  armies  enter  the  field  to  put 
down  a  gigantic  rebellion,  the  ofi*spring  of  ambition  and  the  precur- 
sor of  anarchy.  They  are  ranged  under  a  banner  inscribed  "  The 
Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  enforcement  of  the  Laws."  Never 
had  an  army  a  higher,  nobler  mission.  How  shall  it  be  executed  ? 
Is  it  right  or  expedient  to  begin  and  prosecute  the  work  of  restor- 
ing  "  the   supremacy   of  the    Laws "  by  trifling  with   the   Deca- 


6  PLEA   FOR  THE  SABBATH .  IN  WAR. 

logue '?  To  suppress  rebellion  by  rebellion  against  the  Most  High  ? 
To  quench  the  flames  that  threaten  our  poUtical  edifice,  by  tearing 
away  the  dykes  that  prevent  the  waves  of  vice  and  godlessness  from 
overwhelming  society  ?  To  put  into  conflict  or  competition  loyalty 
to  the  government  and  loyalty  to  the  King  of  kings  '? 

It  is  wrong,  moreover,  in  doing  violence  to  the  conscientious 
Christian  sentiment  of  the  nation.  Libertines  may  regard  that 
sentiment  as  "  straight  -  laced,"  "  Puritanical,"  "  superstitious,"  or 
what  they  will.  But  the  government  and  all  who  tight  under  its 
banner  must  know  that  it  exists,  and  that  it  has  existed  for  genera- 
tions, in  no  indiscriminate  or  unintelligent  form,  and  in  such  strength 
as  to  have  shaped  our  legislation  and  to  have  formed  our  national 
character  and  habits.  It  is  more  potent  and  enlightened  now  than 
ever  before.  It  is  j^atient  under  wrongs  and  charitable  in  its  judg- 
ments. But  it  comprehends  the  sweeping  moral  j^estilence  of  a  vast 
Sabbath-breaking  army,  in  open  defiance  of  its  cherished  principles 
and  its  holiest  convictions.  True  bravery  Avill  hesitate  to  array 
itself  against  true  religion. 

It  is  further  wrong,  becaixse  such  repeated,  public  violations  of 
the  Sabbath  expose  the  country  to  the  visitations  of  the  divine  dis- 
pleasure. It  has  been  conceded  that  specific  disasters  following 
specific  wrongs  may  not  be  necessarily  interpreted  as  divine  judg- 
ments. But  that  public  and  national  sins  bring  national  calamities 
is  the  teaching  of  revelation  and  of  history.  And  we  must  blot  out 
the  record  of  the  divine  dealing  with  ancient  Israel,  and  with  it  the 
history  of  all  Christian  nations ;  and  we  must  shut  our  eyes  to  the 
existing  condition  of  Christendom,  before  we  can  deny  that  the 
Sabbath  is  a  "  Sign  "  between  its  Author  and  the  nations,  or 
that  He  blesses  the  nations  that  keep  and  frowns  on  those  that  tram- 
ple on  the  Lord's  Day.  How  or  when  His  judgments  may  fall  is 
among  the  "  secret  things  "  that  belong  unto  God :  that  they  will 
fall  is  as  certain  as  that  God  reigns.  The  artillery  of  Providence  is 
none  the  less  terrible  that  its  bolts  come  from  invisible  batteries. 
To  brave  omnipotence  is  madness. 

Our  final  plea  for  restraining  further  violations  of  the  Sabbath  is 
based  on  the  dependence  of  the  nation  ond  its  armies  on  the  divine 
favor  and  blessing.  That  dependence  is  absolute.  No  wisdom  of 
rulers,  no  strength  of  armies,  no  energy  or  devotion  of  the  people, 
will  avail  in  the  conflict  before  us,  if  our  God,  our  father's  God,  be  not 
with  us.  It  is  not  true  that  "  Providence  always  favors  the  heaviest 
battalions  ;"  else  we  were  still  subjects  of  the  British  crown.  It  is 
true  that  "  except  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but 
in  vain."  For,  "  We  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God,  our  fathers 
have  told  us  what  woi-k  Thou  didst  in  their  days,  in  the  times  of 


PLEA   FOR  THE   SABBATH   IN   WAR.  7 

old.  .  .  .  For  they  got  not  the  land  in  possession  by  their  own 
sword,  neither  did  their  own  arm  save  them:  but  thy  right  hand  and 
thine  arm,  and  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  because  thou  hadsi  a  favor 
unto  theniP  We  cannot  recover  and  save  the  land  without  "  the 
right  hand"  of  the  same  Almighty  Ally  in  whom  our  fathers 
trusted. 

But  on  what  ground  may  we  base  our  hope  of  the  divine  favor, 
if  we  contemn  the  divine  authority  ?  "We  cax  have  little  hope 

OF   THE    BLESSIN'G    OF    HeAVEN    ON    OUR    ARMS,    IF    WE    INSULT    IT    BY 

ouB  iiMPiETY  AND  FOLLY,"  are  the  very  words  of  Washington,  in 
a  general  order  to  the  Revolutionary  Army  relative  to  the  Sabbath 
and  to  profane  SA\'earing.  They  are  words  of  wise  admonition  to 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  Army  of  Restoration.  Heaven  is  insulted 
by  no  "  impiety  and  folly  "  more  daring  than  the  needless,  wanton 
desecration  of  the  Lord's  Day;  and  "the  blessing  of  Heaven  on 
our  arms  "  can  be  alienated  in  no  surer  or  speedier  way  than  this. 
Xow,  as  in  olden  time,  promises  and  threatenings  alike  guard  the 
sacred  day.  "  If  ye  will  not  hearken  unto  me  to  hallow  the  Sabbath 
day,  .  .  .  then  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the  gates,  and  it  shall  not  be 
quenched."  "  If  thou  turn  away  thy  foot  from  doing  thy  pleasure 
on  my  holy  day,  and  call  the  Sabbath  a  delight,  ...  I  will  cause 
thee  to  ride  upon  the  high  places  of  the  earth,  and  feed  thee  with  the 
heritage  of  thy  father ;  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it." 

Our  plea  is  ended.  We  submit  it,  with  profound  respect,  to  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  United  States,  whose  affecting  appeal  to  the 
Christian  heart  of  the  nation  for  prayer  and  sympathy  in  the  great 
crisis  of  his  own  and  the  nation's  life  still  I'ings  in  the  ears  of  mil- 
lions. Is  it  too  much  to  ask,  in  return,  that  the  armies  of  Avhich  he 
is  the  commander-in-chief,  may  not  be  suffered  needlessly  to  trample 
on  the  very  heart-strings  that  yet  vibrate  to  his  voice  ? 

We  submit  it  to  the  venerable  Lieutenant-General,  whose  brilliant 
military  career  has  been  unstained  by  inhumanity  or  irreverence, 
and  whose  regard  for  the  Sabbath  and  for  sacred  things  would  add 
the  weight  of  example  to  such  a  general  order  as  the  emergency  de- 
mands— such  an  one  as  Washington  issued* — restraining  the  profan- 
ation of  the  Lord's  Day  and  name,  during  the  existing  war. 

*  '■^Tliat  the  troops  may  have  an  opportvmAty  of  attending  public  rcorship,  as  icell  as  to  take 
some  rest  after  the  great  fatigue  they  have  gone  through,  the  General,  in  future,  excuses  them 
from  fatigue  duty  on  Sundays,  except  at  the  ship-yards,  or  on  special  occasions,  until  further 
orders.  The  general  is  sorry  to  be  informed,  that  the  foolish  and  wicked  practice  of  profane  curs- 
ing and  swearing,  a  vice  hitherto  little  known  in  an  American  army,  is  growing  into  fashion.  He 
hopes  the  officers  will,  by  example  as  well  as  influence,  endeavor  to  check  it,  and  that  both  they 
and  the  men  will  reflect  that  we  can  have  little  hope  of  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  our  arms,  if  we 
insult  it  by  our  impiety  and  folly.  Added  to  this,  it  is  a  vice  so  mean  and  low,  without  any  temp- 
tation, that  every  man  of  sense  and  character  detests  and  despises  it." — [Sparks''  Writings  of 
Washington,  Vol.  iv.,  p.  28. 


8 


PLEA   FOR  THE   SABBATH   IN   WAE. 


We  submit  it  to  the  young  and  gallant  General,  whose  career  be- 
gins just  when  Sabbath  desecration  and  consequent  license  has  cul- 
minated in  disaster  ;  and  whose  character  and  history  warrant  the 
hope,  that  there  will  be  no  more  Sunday  battles,  unless  inaugurated 
by  armed  rebels,  and  no  more  needless  war  on  the  Sabbath. 

We  submit  it  to  the  several  Commanders  of  Divisions,  Brigades, 
and  Regiments,  by  Avhose  orders  the  movements  of  troops  are  di- 
rected, and  on  whom  the  responsibility  of  any  organized  invasion  of 
holy  time  must  rest ;  respectfully  entreating  them,  and  each  of  them, 
to  consider  well  whether  the  first  element  of  efiicient  command  is  not 
a  capacity  and  disposition  to  obey? 

We  submit  it  to  the  Armies  of  the  Republic,  as  an  humble  plea 
for  their  right  to  a  weekly  season  of  rest  and  worship ;  and  we  ap- 
peal to  each  soldier  so  to  discharge  the  duties  bound  up  with  the 
right  that  both  may  be  a  blessing  and  an  honor. 

We  submit  it  to  the  Christian  Patriots  of  the  coimtry,  as  embody- 
ing what  we  believe  to  be  just  and  tenable  views  on  a  grave  practi- 
cal question  of  our  times.  While  we  wonld  not  be  outdone  in  pa- 
triotic devotion  to  our  beneficent  government  and  our  glorious  civil 
institutions,  we  cannot  sacrifice  our  Sabbath  and  our  Gospel.  With 
these  no  nation  can  be  long  enslaved  :  without  these  no  nation  was 
ever  free.  The  grave  that  entombs  our  Sabbaths  will  cover  our  lib- 
eral Institutions.  Shall  we  not  seek  to  avert  the  doom  of  godless 
nations,  and  give  earnest  and  timely  heed  to  the  voice  of  Infinite 
Wisdom  ?  "  I  am  the  Lord  your  God ;  walk  in  my  statutes,  and 
keep  my  judgments,  and  do  them ;  and  hallow  my  Sabbaths;  and  they 
shall  be  a  sign  between  me  and  yov,  that  ye  may  knoio  that  I  am  the  Lord 
your  Gody 


NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 


HENRY  J.  BAKER,  HORACE  HOLDEN,  1 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D., 

NATHAN  BISHOP, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH, 

ROBERT  CARTER, 

WARREN  CARTER, 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS, 

E.  L.  FANCHER, 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER. 

DAVID  UOADLEY,  0.  E.  WOOD,  J 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Recording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (President  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Tremureir. 
Office  of  the  Sabbath  ComniiUee,  No.  21  Bible-House,  Neiv  Tori. 


HORACE  HOLDEN, 
JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 
GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 
WM.  A.  SMITH, 
OTIS  D.  SWAN, 
WILLIAM  TRUSLOW, 
W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
WILLIAM  WALKER, 
F.  S.  WINSTON, 
0.  E.  WOOD, 


[DOC.  No.  XX. 


THE  SABBATH  AND  THE  PULPIT. 


€xmxhx  y^ttet  at  the  Sabktlr  Conimitke  ta  tlvc  Clergy. 

Np:w  York,  Nov.  20,  1861. 
Rev.  aio)  Dear  Sir  : 

If  we  interpret  aright  the  providences  of  God  and  the  currents  of 
public  sentiment,  we  have  reached  a  stage  of  the  Sahhatli  Reform 
eminently  favorable  to  the  advocacy  and  general  recognition  of  the 
civil  and  religious  claims  of  the  sacred  day.  The  cheering  results 
of  recent  efforts,  under  the  divine  blessing,  in  the  recovery  of  our  Sab- 
bath from  the  hordes  of  newsboys,  dram-sellers,  and  theatre-keepers ; 
in  the  enactment,  enforcement,  and  final  establishment  of  adequate 
Sunday  laws ;  and  in  the  inauguration  of  a  Sabbath-keeping  regirtu 
in  our  armies,  under  the  auspices  of  the  popular  General-in-Chief, 
would  seem  to  furnish  a  vantage  ground  foi*  the  friends  of  the 
Sabbath  which  they  can  ill  afford  to  lose.  It  may  be  doubted, 
indeed,  whether  the  Sunday  question  ever  stood  before  the  coiuitry 
in  less  prejudiced  aspects,  or  in  a  light  more  favorable  for  its  candid 
consideration.  It  is  certain  that  no  previous  period  in  our  history 
has  made  more  imperative  demands  for  the  conservation  of  this  and 
kindred  institutions  which  underlie  and  are  vital  to  our  system  of 
self-government. 

It  would  iU  become  a  committee  of  laymen  to  attempt  to  magnify 
the  relations  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel.  We  may  assume  that  an  interest  divinely 
associated  with  the  very  being  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  and  the 
Pulpit — the  one,  indeed,  most  prominently  and  persistently  assailed 
by  the  enemies  of  the  gospel — holds  a  foremost  place  in  the  love 
and  labors  of.  the  ambassadors  of  Christ.  The  most,  then,  that  con- 
sists with  propriety,  would  seem  to  be  the  suggestion  of  such  prac- 
tical views  as  have  grown  out  of  protracted  dealhig  with  this  ques- 
tion, in  a  most  difficult  field :  presented  solely  as  encouragements 
and  incentives  to  effort  for  the  general  sanctification  of  the  Lord's 
Day. 

No  cause  suffers  more,  on  the  one  hand  by  neglect,  and  on  the 
other  by  indiscretion,  than  that  of  the  Sabbath.  A  community  may 
lapse  into  the  grossest  habits  of  Sabbath  profanation  through  the 


S  THE   SABBATH   AND   THE   PULPIT. 

timidity  or  indifference  of  the  friends  of  the  Lord's  Day ;  and  ill- 
digested,  spasmodic  efforts  at  reform  only  tend  to  increase  the  evil. 
But,  with  the  traditions,  customs,  and  laws  of  the  land  as  defences 
of  the  rights  of  Christian  citizens  in  this  regard,  and  with  a  pro- 
found reverence  for  its  sacred  character  pervading  the  Chi'istian 
community,  no  practical  reform  is  more  feasible,  in  our  view,  than 
that  for  securing  a  jiroper  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day,  if  Avisely 
and  patiently  prosecuted.  Every  enlightened  conscience  takes  the 
side  of  the  Sabbath.  All  men,  miless  wedded  to  vice  and  folly,  con- 
cede its  social,  sanitary,  and  humane  benefits,  and  may  be  won 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  restraints  necessary  to  its  popular  enjoy- 
ment. It  is  only  Avhen  its  civil  and  leligious  chiims  are  confounded, 
■  and  men  are  made  to  believe  that  the  religions  observance  of  the 
Sabbath  is  to  be  constrained  by  law,  that  they  oppose  the  requisite 
legal  protection  of  the  rights  of  communities  and  of  all  Christian 
citizens  to  their  quiet  Sabbaths.  Let  it  be  distinctly  understood 
that  Sunday  laws  are  enacted  and  enforced  f^ulely  in  tlie  interest  of 
good  order  and  public  morals,  and  for  the  protection  of  inalienable 
rights^  while  the  religious  observance  of  the  day  is  left  to  the  volun- 
tary prompting  of  the  conscience  enlightened  by  the  \\'nvd  and 
Spirit  of  God,  and  prejudice  and  error  are  disarmed. 

A  condensed  statement  of  the  ilicts  and  methods  of  the  Sabbath 
Keform  in  this  city  may  furnish  valuable  hints  for  other  localities. 
It  is  not  easy  to  exaggerate  the  deplorable  and  apparently  hopeless 
condition  of  things  liere  four  years  ago.  The  change  already  effected 
seems  scarcely  credi1)le  to  ourselves.  Then,  Sunday  laws  were  as 
obsolete  and  inoperative  in  New  York  as  in  Vieima:  nobody  at- 
tempted or  expected  their  enforcement.  Now,  they  are  as  effi- 
ciently executed  as  other  statutes,  with  the  cordial  approval  of 
our  citizens  generally.  Then,  hundreds  of  newsboys  overran  the 
city  every  Sabbath,  disturbing  the  peace  of  the  whole  population ; 
now,  the  nuisance  is  abated,  and  most  of  our  streets  are  as  quiet  as 
those  of  a  country  village.  Then,  more  than  5,000  dram-shops  plied 
their  deadly  traffic  openly  and  without  hinderance ;  now,  their  doors 
and  shutters  are  generally  closed,  and  if  liquors  are  sold,  it  is  by 
stealth,  and  at  the  hazard  of  mstant  arrest  for  the  misdemeanor. 
Then,  a  score  of  theatres  made  Simday  their  chief  day  of  profit  and 
pleasure,  with  no  adequate  law  to  restrain  them ;  now,  a  stringent 
law  is  on  our  statute  book,  its  constitutionality  affirmed,  and  its 
penalties  inflicted,  in  sjjite  of  the  most  i:)owerful  combinations. 
Then,  the  arrests  for  Sunday  crime  exceeded  the  average  by  25  per 
cent. ;  noAV,  the  week-day  arrests  are  50  per  cent,  more  tlian  on  Sun- 
days. Then,  the  secular  press  ignored  the  Sunday  question  as  foreign 
to  its  objects ;  since  and  now,  the  entire  press  of  the  city,  uninterested 


THE   SABBATH    AND   THE   PULPIT.  3 

in  Sunday  issues — with  perhaps  a  single  exception — has  been  and  is 
earnestly  enlisted  in  support  of  this  reform.     Then,  the  entire  Ger- 
man population  was  claimed  to  be  wedded  to  Sunday  pastimes  and 
opposed  to  American  Sabbath  restraints ;  now,  a  large  and  influen- 
tial body  of  Germans  are  avowedly  friendly  to  the  due  observance 
of  the  Lord's  Day,  and  actively  hostile  to  the  demoralizmg  views 
and  customs  of  the  beer-garden  classes.     In  a  Avord,  the  more  oflen- 
sive  forms  of  Sabbath  desecration  have  been  suppressed,  in  the  face 
of  the  most  virulent  opposition  of  interested  parties,  by  the  coopera- 
tion of  the.  orderly  classes  with  the  public  authorities.     And  a  per- 
manent foundation  has  been  laid  for  all  needed  future  action-^legis* 
lative,  judicial,  or  executive — for  the  protection  of  our  civil  Sabbath. 
In  eftecting  these  results,  under  the  fiivor  of  God,  certain  well- 
defined  principles  of  action  have  been  ^nirsued.     (1.)  Every  measure 
has  been  entered  upon  with  extreme  deliberation,  and  after  the  most 
careful  survey  of  the  ground.     (2.)  Each  issue  has  been  chosen  and 
adhered  to   by  the   fj-iends  of  the  Sabbath — the   many  attempts 
at  diversion  or  distraction  on  the  part  of  its  enemies  having  been 
steadily  ignored ;   and  each  has  been  substantially  finished  before 
another    has   been  entered  on.     Many   evils   have   been  long   en- 
dured,  and   are   still   tolerated,  till   they  might  be   assailed   with 
the   reasonable   hope   of   their   suppression.     Sometimes   the  con- 
quest of  a  single  fortress  carries  a  whole  line  of  defences,  or  one 
battle  decides  a  campaign.     (3.)  Our  aim  has  been  to  make  such 
issues,  and   so   to  present   them,   as  to  constrain   the   support  of 
all   right-minded  citizens,   whether  professedly  Christian   or   not, 
and  to  leave  the  enemies  of  Sunday  order  with   no  other   alHes 
than  palpable  self-interest  and  vicious  indulgence.     It  was  believed, 
and  it  has  proven,  that  this  policy  might  lead  himdreds  of  thousands 
to  the  support  of  the  claims  and  restraints  of  the  civil  Sabbath,  and 
thus  predispose  them  to  a  candid  considei'ation  of  its  religious  obli- 
gations ;    when    the    obtrusion    of    its     religious    aspects,    while 
dealing  with  practical   civil   reforms,  would  only  tend  to  alienate 
and  disgust.     (4.)  In  view  of  the  obvious  fact  that,  under  our  form 
of  government,  laws  are  oj^erative  and  reforms  substantial  only  in 
the  measure  m  which  they  are  sustained  by  public  sentiment,  it  has 
been  a  prime  object  to  enlighten,  quicken,  and  conciliate  that  senti- 
ment.    The  series  of  Sabbath  documents,  now  numbering  twenty, 
has  been  prepared  and  circulated  gratuitously  among  thousands  of 
our  citizens,  with  this  end  in  view.     They  have  furnished  the  basis 
and  the  material  for  newspaper  discussions.     They  have  enabled  our 
authorities  to  imderstand  the  scope  and  motives  of  the  reform.    They 
have  scattered  its  seeds  in  other  communities,  in  this  and  other  lands. 
They  have  rendered  the  efforts  of  the  unscrupulous  Sunday  press  to 


4  THE   SABBATH    AND   THE    PULPIT. 

misrepresent  our  objects  or  to  change  our  issues  quite  abortive, 
while  they  have  furnished  the  only  vindication  necessary  against 
the  libels  of  that  press.  Their  candid  and  moderate  tone,  and 
their  freedom  from  personalities,  have  tended  to  disarm  oppo- 
sition and  to  conciliate  the  friendly  feeling  of  all  good  citizens. 
(5.)  It  has  been  our  steady  aim  to  encourage  and  support  the  public 
authorities,  constantly  consulting  with  them,  and  seeking  to  aid  them 
by  the  assured  cooperation  of  our  influential  citizens.  They  have 
thus  been  stimulated  to  praiseworthy  zeal,  and  have  found  their  re- 
ward of  well-doing  in  augmented  vigor  and  self-respect,  in  rapidly 
diminished  crime,  and  in  the  increasing  regai'd  of  all  classes  of  the 
community.  This  cordial  and  active  cooperation  of  leading  citizens 
with  public  authorities,  solely  for  the  public  good,  if  it  be  unu- 
sual— as  it  should  not  be — is  far  from  being  unwelcome.  (6.)  Need- 
less publicity  of  the  agency  of  the  Committee  in  measures  of  reform 
has  been  avoided.  Unnecessary  agitation,  by  public  meetings,  etc., 
has  been  shunned.  Quiet,  imobtrusive,  efficient  action  has  been 
aimed  at.  To  do  substantial  good,  by  prudent  Christian  methods, 
has  l>een  our  sole  ambition.  (7.)  The  exjjenses  of  this  movement, 
which  have  not  been  inconsiderable,  have  been  wholly  defrayed  by 
a  few  private  donations,  it  having  been  deemed  inexpedient  to  com- 
plicate and  perhaps  prejudice  important  public  issues  with  pecuniary 
appeals. 

To  this  frank  statement  it  should  be  added,  that  without  the  ex- 
istence of  that  deep  love  for  the  Lord's  Day  for  its  religious  uses 
and  benefits  which  pervades  the  ministry  and  the  Churches,  and 
which  formed  all  along  the  reserved  strength  of  this  reform,  the  at- 
tempt to  restore  our  civil  Sabbath  would  have  been  hopeless.  It  is 
so  everywhere :  civil  rights  glide  away  where  they  have  not  the 
anchorage  of  religious  principle. 

It  is,  then,  in  behalf  of  the  continued  civil  and  social  blessings  of 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  as  well  as  in  the  interest  of  its  higher  spiritual 
benefits,  that  we  venture  to  appeal  to  you  and  to  the  clergy  through- 
out the  land^  to  lend  the  full  measure  of  your  influence,  in  the 
Pulpit,  and  in  all  suitable  ways  out  of  it,  to  the  defense  and  sancti- 
fication  of  the  Lord's  Day.  Our  experience  encourages  the  belief 
that  a  wise  and  manly  resistance  of  Sabbath  ]»)-ofanations  in  any 
community  will,  with  the  })romised  blessing  from  on  High,  result 
in  theii-  suppression ;  so  that  their  continuance  any  where  indicates 
delinquency  in  duty  of  Christian  men,  as  much  as  of  civil  authori- 
ties. While  in  the  great  work  of  expounding  the  divine  law  of 
the  Sabbath  and  enforcing  its  claims  on  the  intelligent,  conscientious 
convictions  of  the  Church-gohig  community,  the  ministry  and  the 
religious  Press  have  the  chief  responsibility.     The  Committee  have 


THE   SABBATH   AND   THE   PULPIT.  0 

not  deemed  it  Avise  or  necessary  to  discuss  the  topics  coming  within 
the  special  province  of  the  pulpit.  They  are  entrusted  to  worthy 
hands.  "We  only  solicit  that  A'igorous  and  prudent  cooperation  of 
the  clergy  which  we  are  confident  your  sense  of  duty  and  love  for 
a  sacred  interest  will  prompt,  and  which  will  greatly  strengthen  the 
hands  of  all  who  may  apply  themselves  to  practical  reforms  in  Sab- 
bath obserA  ance.  And  we  respectfully  urge  early  attention  to  this 
interest  because  of  the  apparently  hopeful  juncture  for  indoctrinat- 
ing the  public  mind  with  just  Scriptural  views  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
for  effecting  whatever  reforms  may  be  demanded  in  the  connnunity 
in  which  your  public  office  is  discharged. 

May  we  be  allowed  to  suggest  that  in  cities  and  large  communi- 
ties concert  of  action  among  the  clergy  of  various  denominations 
and  their  leading  citizens  is  highly  desirable ;  and  that  in  all  commu- 
nities practical  action  should  be  preceded  by  patient,  pains-taking 
investigation  and  preparation  of  the  public  mind.  Instead  of  the 
diffused,  indefinite  responsibility,  which  is  the  parent  of  inaction 
and  the  warrant  for  license  and  disorder,  there  should  be  concen- 
tration— method — perseverance — practical  wisdom — applied  to  the 
preservation  and  advancement  of  an  interest  vital  to  the  being  of 
sound  morals  and  true  religion,  and  to  the  well-being  of  our  pre- 
cious civil  and  religious  institutions. 

Commending  this  whole  subject  to  your  prayerful  consideration, 
and  proffering  our  documents,  correspondence  and  cooperation, 

We  are,  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

Your  humble  fellow  laborers  in  the  Lord's 
Vineyard  for  the  Lord's  Day, 

NORMAN  WHITE,  Chairman. 

HENRY  J.  BAKER,  HORACE  HOLDEN, 

E.  L.  BEADLE,  M.  D.,  JNO.  E.  PARSONS, 

NATHAN  BISHOP,  GUSTAV  SCHWAB, 

WILLIAM  A.  BOOTH,  WM.  A.  SMITH, 

ROBERT  CARTER,  OTIS  D.  SWAN, 

WARREN  CARTER,  WILLIAM  TRUSLOW,      f 

THOMAS  C.  DOREMUS,        W.  F.  VAN  WAGENEN, 
E.  L.  FANCHER,  WILLIAM  WALKER, 

FRED.  G.  FOSTER,  F.  S.  "WINSTON, 

DAVID  HOADLEY,  0.  E.  WOOD,  J 

JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN,  Eecording  Secretary. 

RUSSELL  S.  COOK,  Correspondbig  Secretary. 

J.  M.  MORRISON,  (♦'resident  of  Manhattan  Bank,)  Treamn 


Office  of  the  Sabbath   Committee,  Jl   Biule  House.  New  York,  where  nil  letters 
should  be  addressed. 


THE   SABBATH   AND   THE   PULPIT. 


Action  of  Clerical  Bodies  on  the  Sunday  Question. 

Resolutions  of  more  than  100  Clergymen,  New  York,  Jan.  25,  1858. 

Resolved,  That  the  day  of  holj'  rest,  to  a  land  bearing  a  Christian  name,  and  to 
a  republic  based  on  equal  rights,  has  the  highest  Civil  Worth.  Man  needs  it, 
physically,  as  a  season  when  Labor  niaj'  Avipe  off  its  grime,  and  breathe  more  freely 
after  the  week's  exhaustion,  and  when  Care  shall  slacken  its  hold  upon  the  frame 
and  the  heart.  Man  needs  it,  morally,  to  rise  b\'  its  aid  out  of  engrossing  seculari- 
ties  and  materialism  to  the  remembrance  of  his  spiritual  interests,  his  final  account, 
and  his  eternal  destiny.  Toil  needs  it  to  rescue  its  share  of  rest,  and  its  season  of 
devotion  from  the  absorbing  despotism  of  Capital ;  and  Capital  needs  it,  to  shield 
its  own  accumulations  from  the  recklessness  and  anarchj-  of  an  imbruted  and  des- 
perate proletariate,  and  to  keep  its  own  humanity  and  conscientiousness  alive. 
The  State  needs  it,  as  a  safeguard  of  the  |)ublic  order,  quiet,  and  virtue ;  human 
laws  becoming,  however  wise  iu  form,  effete  in  practice,  except  as  tliey  are  based 
upon  conscience  and  upon  the  sanctions  of  Eternity,  as  recognized  voluntarily  by 
an  intelligent  people ;  and  God's  day  cultivating  the  one,  and  reminding  us  of  the 
other.  And  in  a  RejyubUc  more  especially,  whose  liberties,  under  Cod,  inhere  in 
its  virtues,  the  recognition — freelj'  and  devoutlj',  hy  an  instructed  nation — of  God's 
paramount  rights,  is  the  moral  underpinning  requisite  to  sustain  the  superstruc- 
ture of  man's  rights;  and  without  such  support  from  religion — not  as  nationally 
established,  but  as  personally  and  freely  accepted — all  human  freedom  finally 
moulders  and  topples  into  irretrievable  ruin. 

That,  as  to  its  RELiorous  Value,  this  day  of  sacred  rest  has  the  strongest  claims 
upon  all  Chi'istians,  however  differing  as  to  its  true  origin,  and  whether  they  trace 
it  back  to  Eden,  to  Sinai,  or  to  the  Saviour's  tomb,  as  finding  there  its  real  com- 
mencement. They  need  the  observance  of  the  day,  as  the  season  of  their  assemblies 
and  ordinances,  and  as  furnishing  one  great  bond  of  their  fraternal  communion.  In 
its  relations  to  this  world,  the  Church  requires  it  to  conserve  and  to  extend  its  re- 
ligious influence,  and  as  the  channel  of  a  yet  wider  evangelization.  In  its  relations 
to  the  heavenly  world,  the  Church  needs  it  for  its  collective  prayers,  intercessions, 
and  thanksgivings;  and  that  thus  it  may  embody  the  image  and  enjoy  the  antepast 
of  the  endless  rest  to  which  it  aspires  in  right  of  Christ's  victory,  on  this  day  con- 
summated, over  Sin,  Death,  and  Hell.  And  the  God,  who  is  the  Giver  of  all  time, 
never  having  surrendered  to  ordinarj*  uses  this  His  own  reserved  season,  the  infrac- 
tion by  man  of  God's  claims  here  is  ingratitude,  attempting  robbery  and  perpetrat- 
ing sacrilege,  as  against  a  Bounteous  and  Sovereign  Creator. 

That,  as  Remedial  Measures  against  the  evils  invading  us — apart  from  all  present 
appeal  to  the  civil  statutes  which  guard  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  the  day  b}'  a  Cliris- 
tian  people — Christians,  generally-,  are  called,  in  the  way  of  conference,  cooperation, 
and  personal  example,  to  pi'otest  with  patient  and  earnest  consistency  against  the 
varied  and  widely  diffused  encroachments  which  threaten  the  demolition  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath ;  and  to  diffuse,  in  tracts  and  volumes,  their  best  testimony  for  the 
institution :  And  that  pastors  are  especially  summoned,  by  the  times,  to  present  from 
the  pulpit  the  rights  of  the  Sabbath,  and  its  bearings  not  only  upon  the  cause  of 
truth  and  piety,  but  as  well  also  upon  the  interests  of  order,  thrift,  health,  morality, 
and  freedom  :  And  that  the  faith  which  hails  in  the  Giver  and  Guardian  of  this 
day,  the  Legislator  and  Owner  of  the  Universe,  may  well  expect  His  ultimate  and 
unfailing  benediction  upon  all  prudent  and  kindlj'  endeavors  to  assert  the  interests 
of  man  and  the  claims  of  God  in  this  great  question. 


THE   SABBATH   AND   THE   PULPIT.  / 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  [0.  S.]  adopted  the  follow- 
ing minute,  Philadelphia,  May  25, 1861 : 

"The  Assembly  having  listened  with  pleasure  to  the  secretary  of  the  'Sabbath 
Committee '  of  New  York  city,  congratulates  that  committee  upon  the  success  which, 
under  the  prospering  and  guiding  hand  of  God,  has  attended  its  efforts  to  restore  to 
that  city  the  '  civil  Sabbath,'  and  rescue  that  day  from  desecration  and  criminal  per- 
version, by  the  enforcement  of  proper  Sabbath  laws,  enacted  not  to  coerce  the  con- 
science of  any,  but  to  protect  all  in  the  enjoyment  of  precious  civil  rights.  As  a 
Christian  people,  the  Sabbath  belongs  to  us  as  of  right,  and  as  a  part  of  our  heritage, 
and  of  our  institutions,  and  is  as  real  and  substantial  a  right  as  any  known  to  the 
laws.   ^ 

"  The  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  religious  rest  ordained  of 
God,  is  enjoined  upon  all  as  a  Christian  duty ;  and  the  observance  of  one  day  in 
seven  as  a  day  of  rest  from  labor  and  secular  employments,  Is  a  physical  necessity 
imposed  by  a  law  of  our  nature,  which  thus  adds  its  sanction  to  the  express  com- 
mand of  God.  As  a  civil  institution  the  Sabbath  is  deeply  interwoven  with  the 
foundations  of  civil  government,  and  its  sanctions  are  indispensable  to  the  stability 
and  prosperity  of  a  nation.  God  honors  that  nation  that  honors  his  Sabbath.  And 
may  it  not  be  that  one  reason  of  the  eontrt)versy  which  he  now  manifestly  has  with 
ns,  is  that,  although  professedly  a  Chi'istian  nation,  we  have  not  honored  his  day  as 
did  our  forefathers '! 

"  Every  practice,  therefore,  which  tends  to  disturb  the  peace,  good  order,  and 
quiet  of  that  day — which  tends  to  dishonor  and  bring  reproach  upon  it,  deprives 
the  laborer  of  it  as  a  day  of  rest,  or  interferes  with  or  hinders  the  due  religious  ob- 
servance of  it  by  Christian  people— is  not  only  a  sin  against  God,  but  an  offence 
against  government,  and  a  crime  against  man,  to  be  prevented  or  punished  by  the 
civil  authority. 

"  The  duty  of  the  government  to  protect  the  Sabbath,  and  secure  it  to  all  as  a 
civil  right,  has  ever  been  acknowledged  and  acted  upon  by  every  Christian  nation. 
The  Cliurch  needs  tlie  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  worship,  and  in  the  preservation  and 
extension  of  its  religious  influence,  as  well  as  a  means  of  grace,  and  a  channel  of  com- 
municating blessings  to  tiie  world. 

"  Encouraged,  therefore,  by  what  has  been  accomplished  by  this  local  Committee, 
this  Assembly  i-ecommends  to  the  churches  under  its  care,  and  to  its  ministers  and 
ruling  elders,  increased  watchfulness  and  zeal  in  securing  the  proper  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  the  enforcement  of  all  laws  for  its  protection  and  preservation." 


The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Cuuucii  [N.  S.]  adopted  the  follow 
ing  minute,  Syracuse,  May  27,  1861  : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  the  Assembly  have  heard,  with  deep  interest,  the  statements 
of  the  secretary  of  the  New  York  Sabbath  Committee,  in  regard  to  its  plans  and 
operations;  and  that  they  rejoice  in  the  favor  of  Divine  Providence  which  has  so 
evidently  attended  its  well-devised  and  energetic  movements. 

"■Reaohed,  2.  Tliat  we  connnend  anew  the  cause  of  the  Sabbath  to  the  churches 
under  our  care,  as  at  all  times  worthy  of  a  most  hearty  and  earnest  support,  and  as 
calling,  in  the  present  circumstances  of  the  country,  for  special  vigilance  and  fidelity. 
We  would  particularly  urge  it  upon  them  that  fervent  prayer  be  offered,  and  all 
possible  care  be  taken,  that,  even  in  troublous  times,  the  precious  day  of  the  Lord 
be  honored. 

"Resolved,  3.  That  it  be  recommende(l  to  our  churches  to  cooperate  with  the  New 


8  THE   SABBATH   AND   THE   PULPIT. 

York  Sabbath  Committee  in  their  praiseworthy  designs,  by  any  such  expressions  o1 
sympathy  or  forms  of  effort  as,  in  Iheir  several  localities,  may  seem  to  them  appro 
priate." 


The  Generaf,  Synod  of  the  KEFOKMF.n  Dutch  Chukch,  Brooklyn,  June  12,  1861. 

"Resolved,  That  tlie  General  Synod  lias  heard  with  great  pleasure  and  deep  in 
terest  the  statement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cook  on  the  suliject  of  the  efforts  which  have  been 
made  by  the  Sabbath  Couimittce  to  rescue  the  holy  Sabbath  from  desecration,  and 
place  it  in  its  right  position  as  a  day  which  the  God  of  this  nation  requires  should 
be  kept  holy ;  and  that  we  rejoice  in  the  blessed  results  of  those  efforts,  and  that 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  stands  pledged  and  covenanted  wi;h  God  and  man  in 
favor  of  this  work." 


Tw<(  Thousand  Germans  in  Cooren  Institute, 

"Resolved,  That  we,  as  Germans,  do  solemnly  protest  against  the  perversion  of 
Sunday  from  a  day  of  rest  and  devotion  into  a  day  of  noisy  excitement  and  dis- 
sipation, which  is  onlj-  too  frequent  among  some  of  our  German  countrymen,  and 
brings  dishonor  on  the  German  name ;  and  that  we  request  our  fellow-citizens  by 
no  means  to  charge  the  fault  of  nianj^  upon  the  wliole  people  and  upon  Germany, 
where  for  many  j'cars  past  noble  efforts  are  successfully  making  towards  the  pro- 
motion of  the  better  observance  of  Sunday. 

"Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  strict  observance  of  Sunday  which  was  introduced 
into  this  country  with  the  very  first  settlements  of  Euiopcan  immigrants,  and  has 
ever  since  been  the  common  custom  of  the  land,  bj'  no  means  as  a  defect,  but  on 
the  contrary  as  a  great  advantage  and  blessing  to  America,  and  we  will  cheer- 
fully assist  in  keeping  it  up  and  handing  it  down  to  future  generations. 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  Sabbatli  Laws  of  this  country,  as  they  obtain  in  nearly 
every  State  of  our  great  republican  confederacy,  we  see  nothing  that  conflicts  with 
the  cherished  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  on  the  contrary,  we  regard 
them  as  one  of  the  strongest  guarantees  of  our  free  institutions;  as  a  wholesome 
check  upon  licentiousness  and  dissipation,  and  as  a  preventative  of  the  pauperism 
and  crime  which  must  necessarily  undermine  and  ultimately  destroj' the  liberty  of 
any  people." 


DOCUMENTS    OF    THE    SABBATH    COMMITTEE. 

No.  1.  T/ie  Sabbath  as  it  was  and  as  it  is,  8  pp. ;  2.  Railroads  and  the  Sabbath, 
16  pp. ;  3.  Neivs-crying  and  the  Sabbath,  16  pp.;  4.  The  Sabbath  in  Europe,  16  pp. ; 
o.  The  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  24  pp.;  6.  .^4  Year  for  the  Sabbath,  16  pp.;  7.  Memo- 
rial Memora7ida,  40  pp. ;  8.  German  Document  on  the  Sunday  Liquor  Traffic,  24  pp.  ; 
9.  German  Sabbath  Meeting  at  the  Cooper  Institute,  24  pp. ;  10.  The  Broderic  Sun- 
day Pageant,  16  pp.;  11.  Sunday  Theatres  and  Beer  Gardens,  24  pp.;  12.  Progress 
of  the  Sabbath  Reform,  32  pp. ;  13.  The  Press  of  New  York  on  the  Tjow  against 
Sunday  Theatres, 'lA:  pp.;  li.  Sunday  at  the  Central  Park,  8  pp.;  15.  The  Civil 
Sabbath  Restored,  32  pp.;  16.  Second  German  Meeting  at  Cooper  histitute,  32  pp.; 
IV.  77/0  Sabbath  in  War,  4  pp. ;  18.  Constitutional  Basis  of  our  Sunday  Laws,  4  pp.  >' 
19.  Plea  for  the  Sabbath  in  War,  8  pp. ;  20.  The  Sabbath  and  the  Ptdpit,  8  pp. — 
Nos.  8,  9,  and  16  are  in  the  German  language.  ([1;^°Address  Orders  to  No.  21 
Bible  House,  New  York. 


[Sabbath  Leaflets,  No.  1.] 


/ 


THE  SABBATH 


GERMAN  BEER-GARDENS. 


Feom  "The  Examinek,"  Jan.  26, 1860. 


Hume,  with  all  his  infidelity,  allowed  the  indebtedness  of  British 
freedom  to  the  Puritans.  He  must  he  strangely  reckless  or  biased, 
who  overlooks  the  services  of  that  same  class  in  shaping  the  liberties 
of  our  own  country.  And  how  great  the  stress  Avhich  this  godly 
body  of  men  laid  ujDon  the  Sabbath,  in  its  connection  with  national 
prosperity,  is  seen,  when  we  find  one  of  their  eminent  preachers, 
Arthur  Hildersham,  in  1628,  tracing  out  the  origin  of  the  calamities 
which  were  then  visiting  the  Protestants  of  Germany  and  France. 
When  the  Thirty  Years'  War  v/as  ravaging  the  Palatinate,  and  brings 
ing  about  the  sack  of  Heidelberg;  and  those  reverses  were  come 
upon  French  Protestantism  which  led  to  the  fall  of  Rochelle,  he  found 
amongst  the  chief  causes  of  these  inflictions,  the  Continental  profana- 
tion of  the  Sabbath.  The  ferocity  of  a  Tilly,  and  the  craft  of  a 
Richelieu,  Avere  thus,  in  his  judgment,  the  scourges  used  by  the 
Providence  of  God,  to  avenge  the  quarrel  of  his  own  desecrated  day. 
And  the  Most  High  has,  by  Isaiah,  promised  to  the  people  v/lio  revere 
His  Sabbath,  that  they  shall  "  kide  ox  the  high  places  of  the 
EARTH ;"  or,  in  other  words,  that  He  will  elevate  them  to  influence, 
and  speed  them  in  the  path  of  national  advancement.  Their  victori- 
ous car  shall  climb  safely,  and  traverse  swiftly,  *thc  world's  loftier 
eminences. 

We  hold,  that  not  the  churches  only,  but  our  community  at  large, 
owe  much  to  the  Sabbath  Comn.iittee  of  this  city  for  the  cahnness, 
firmness,  and  wisdom,  with  which  they  have  pursued,  amid  difiiculty 
and  misrepresentation,  their  measures  for  the  defense  of  the  Christian 
Sabbath.  They  have  happily  united  great  moderation  and  courtesy 
of  tone  with  singular  resolvedness  of  purpose.  The  Eleventh  of  their 
documents  is  before  us,  bearing  the  title  "  Sunday  Theatres,  '  Sa- 
cred Concerts,'  and  Beer-Gardens."  It  appears  from  it,  as  an 
illustration  of  tlie  close  connection  between  Vice  and  the  Sunday 
Liquor  trade,  that  since  the  Sunday  Liquor  shops  have  been  generally 
closed,  the  arrests  on  that  day,  (once  tnore  numerous,  by  twenty-five 
per  cent.^  than  those  on  Tuesdays)  have  become,  by  thirty-three  per 
cent.^  less  numerous  than  the  Tuesday  commitments ;  and  that  the 
relative  proportion  of  arrests,  on  both  Sundays  and  Tuesdays,  is  one 
of  steady  dimitiution. 

The  pamphlet,  then  addressing  itself  next  to  the  sources  of  remain- 


2  THE   SABBATH    AND   GERMAN   BEER-GARDENS. 

ing  Sunday  disorder,  talces  up  the  Sunday  Theatres,  the  misnamed 
"  Sacred  Concerts,"  and  Beer-Gardens  of  our  German  immigrant  pop- 
ulation. The  statistics  of  these  seem  to  have  been  carefully  obtained, 
and  though  presented  M^ith  the  sobriety  of  tone  that  happily  marks 
the  documents  of  our  Committee,  they  are  ominous  and  startling. 
The  language  of  the  Germans,  "who  in  October  last  convened  in  the 
Cooper  Institute  t8  protest  against  these  Sabbath  desecrations  on  the 
part  of  their  countrymen,  assures  the  American,  that  neither  the  old 
Fatherland,  nor  the  Avhole  body  of  its  colonists  to  our  shores,  are  in 
justice  responsible  for  these  abuses,  now  so  diftusive  and  so  rampant 
within  our  municipal  borders. 

Our  existing  enactments,  and  our  ancestral,  national  usages,  are 
alike  in  direct  and  grinding  collision  Avith  tliese  perversions  of  the 
Sunday's  rest.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  our  laws,  or  theigreed 
and  riot  that  defy  them,  shall  triumph.  It  is  contended  by  the  pa- 
trons and  victims  of  these  profanations,  that  all  common  and  statute 
laws  in  defense  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  are  unconstitutional,  and  are 
equivalent  to  a  National  Establishment  of  Religion,  Avhich  last  we 
have,  as  a  people,  repudiated. 

The  objection  will  not  hold.  Our  government,  like  every  other, 
requires  to  its  very  existence  a  Morality,  whether  it  do,  or  do  not, 
accept  the  ritual  and  doctrinal  creed  of  a  Religion.  The  Ought  is 
what  lies,  in  the  very  constitution  of  government,  at  the  base  of  the 
Must.  Moral  obligation  is  the  assumed  foundation  of  Law.  By  in- 
heritance and  history,  the  overwhelming  majority  of  our  inhabitants, 
it  will  be  found,  receive,  as  the  standard  of  their  Morality,  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  The  Jew,  the  Mohammedan,  and  Deist  even,  recognize 
also  the  need  of  a  Morality ;  though  adopting  another  standard  of  it 
than  ours.  Government,  and  Ave  may  say.  Society  itself,  are  imjiossi- 
ble  without  this  Morality.  The  vast  mass  of  the  nation  accept  the 
definitions  and  sanctions  of  the  Gos])e],  as  settling  their  views  of  what 
constitutes  Morality.  So  fai-,  the  Christian  Religion  is  a  part  of  our 
Common  LaAV.  That  part  of  morality  Avhich  makes  up  the  laAv  of 
marriage,  is  not,  with  us,  either  HebrcAv,  or  Pagan,  or  Mohammedan, 
or  Mormon  ;  it  is  distinctively  Christian.  So  our  courts  of  laAV  sus- 
pend their  action  on  the  Christian  Sabb.ath  ;  and  the  great  mass  of 
the  judicial  oaths  that  are  taken,  are  so  taken  on  the  Christian  Scrip- 
tures, and  by  appeal  to  the  Cln-istian's  God.  The  nation  finds  itself 
unable  to  manage  the  visible  and  diurnal  affairs  of  earth,  Avithout 
takhig  hold  upon  the  Invisible  and  the  Eternal.  The  oath  appeals, 
for  the  truth  and  sincerity  of  its  utteier,  to  the  Unseen  and  Everlast- 
ing One,  the  Hater  of  lalsehood.  The  Sabbath  rest  takes  repose  from 
the  cares  and  toils  of  the  Earthly,  in  the  consolations  and  antepasts 
of  the  Heavenly.  The  Marriage  presents  before  the  Lord  and  Giver 
of  Life,  the  choice  made  by  man  ofthat  companionship,  in  Avhich,  and. 
by  Avhich,  Life  is  to  be  solaced  and  perpetuated  in  our  Avorld.  They 
are  all — Oath,  Sabbath,  and  Man-iage — confessions  of  the  dependence 
of  man  and  man's  government,  upon  something  Higher — something 
beyond  Time  and  above  Man.  They  are  like  the  loops  that  fitted 
the  taches  of  the  Hebrew  tabernacle.  Into  these  confessions  of 
Human  dependence,  as  into  loops,  are  adapted  and  buttoned— so  to 
speak — the  sanctions  and  influences  of  a  Divine  Sovereignty.     The 


THE   SABBATH   AND   GERMAN   BEER-GARDENS.  8 

religious  man  takes  both  ;  the  Morality,  and  the  Religion  supplement- 
ing the  Morality,  Government  needs  the  Morality  and  takes  it ; 
but  Avith  the  indistinct  perception  at  the  time,  that  Morality  is  some- 
thing incomiDlete.  It  does  not  establish  the  Religion ;  but  it  must 
not,  on  the  other  hand,  contravene  and  outrage  and  persecute  the 
Religion.  It  is,  as  a  government,  not  only  entitled,  but  required  to 
secure,  by  enactment  and  magistracy,  the  peaceful  worship  of  its 
religious  citizens  from  infringement  and  molestation  by  its  turbulent 
and  lawless  members.     This  is  a  sufficient  basis  for  Sabbath  laws. 

But,  again.  Society  is  entitled  to  recognize  the  human  bearings  of 
the  Sabbath  rest,  on  bodily  health,  and  family  order,  and  temperance, 
and  civil  virtue;  and  to  foster,  by  explicit  statutes,  such  Sabbath 
repose  and  Sabbath  worship,  heedless  of  the  clamor  of  those,  mani- 
festly and  notoriously  disregarding  all  these  personal  and  social  boons. 

And,  again,  Society  is  entitled,  on  any  day,  to  inhibit  practices  prej- 
udicial to  health,  morals  or  life.  She  may,  from  a  regard  to  its  pe- 
cuniary burdens,  or  its  tendency  to  foster  disease  and  crime,  curb  the 
liquor  trade  ;  and  this,  on  any  day  of  the  seven.  She  may,  if  a  certain 
class  of  amusements — be  they  betting,  gambling,  lotteries,  cock-fight- 
ing, pugilism,  or  theatrical  spectacles — are  found  of  immoral  and 
ruinous  tendency,  restrict,  or,  in  her  judgment  of  the  expediency  of 
it,  may  even  abolish  them.  And  this  for  certain  days  only,  or  for  all 
days.  And  if  these  demoralizing  recreations  are,  on  one  certain  day, 
because  of  the  larger  numbers  then  at  leisure,  likely  to  have  more 
than  common  scope  for  their  baleful  influence,  and  sweep  into  their 
nets  a  greater  crowd  of  victims ;  then,  it  seems  to  us  undeniable  that 
Society  is,  on  these  seasons  of  especial  exposure  and  temptation, 
bound  to  guard,  with  especial  stringency,  the  throng  of  dupes  from 
their  remorseless  spoilers.  Now,  the  Christian  Sabbath,  from  its  sus- 
pension of  the  week's  long  toils,  does  thus  make  the  harvest  of 
Rai^acity  and  Debauchery — if  these  last  be  left  uncurbed — one  of 
especial  plentifulness.  Society  is,  then,  as  the  guardian  of  morality 
and  thrift,  bound  to  hedge  up  the  way  of  Fraud  and  Riot  on  that  day 
with  a  double  strictness.  And  when  that  is — in  addition  to  all  these 
considerations  for  its  defense — also,  to  multitudes  of  the  nation,  the 
day  of  devout  communings  with  God,  she  is  bound  to  see  not  only 
that  ♦Vice  be  foiled  of  its  j^rey,  but  that  Piety  be  shielded  in  its  wor- 
ship. And  this  she  does,  without  adopting  the  Church,  or  giving 
Civil  Endowment  to  the  Religion. 

The  Church  of  the  Living  God,  in  her  own  voluntary  membership 
and  spiritual  vitality,  asks  not — and  would  even  shun — the  patronage 
and  livery  and  hire  of  the  State.  Permeating  and  interpenetrating 
the  membership  and  citizenship  of  the  State,  she  is  yet,  in  her  laws, 
spirit,  and  constituency,  distinct.  She  is,  in  some  sense,  alien  to  all 
civil  rule.  She  has  "another  King — one  Jesus,"  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  State  needs  a  Morahty.  She  cannot,  as  a  Republic,  with 
any  consistency,  refuse  to  recognize  the  Morality  which  the  majority 
of  her  citizens  receive  as  the  true  and  the  Divine.  That  Morality,  in 
the  Christian  system,  is  a  portion — a  vital  portion  indeed — but  i^ot 
the  entirety  of  the  Christian  Religion.  The  State,  as  a  State,  takes 
for  its  secular  uses  the  Morality ;  but  is  compelled  also,  in  the  oath, 
the   rest-day,  and  the   marrige-contract,   to   give   a   distant   nod  of 


4  THE  SABBATH  AND   GERMAN   BEER-GARDENS. 

recognition  to  Religion,  as  furnishing  the  requisite  sanctions  of  this 
Morality.  But  whilst  the  State,  in  mass,  stops  short  with  the  Morality, 
the  several  citizens  of  the  State,  in  their  individual  immortality,  and 
in  their  accountability  beyond  the  bounds  of  this  world,  have  larger 
and  more  lasting  wants  than  the  collective  State  :  they  need  person- 
ally, and  of  free  conviction,  to  adopt  the  Religion.  And  without  a 
large,  active,  prayerful  and  resolute  body  of  such  citizens,  so  holding 
individually  the  Religion,  we  think  the  Morality  of  the  State  will  not 
be  kept  in  working  order.  The  State  may  indeed  have  no  conscience 
of  her  own  ;  but  unless  her  citizens,  many  of  them,  keep  a  conscience, 
she  is  lost.  Christ  does  not  need  the  Republic.  But  the  Republic 
needs  Christ,  as  the  base  and  bond  of  her  Morality,  without  which 
she  cannot  shape  or  keep  her  political  life.  And  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  the  Republic  needs  the  Christ,  as  the  Ruler,  Owner  and 
Redeemer  of  the  soul,  for  both  worlds,  and  for  all  days,  here  and 
beyond.  And  He,  the  Thrice  Blessed,  invites  them  to  His  Salvation. 
As  those  holding  in  high  regard  the  memory  of  Luther,  and  the 
many  worthies  who  have  succeeded  to  his  Avork — as  using  and  revering 
the  profound  scholarship  of  German  Universities — and  as  those  who 
value  the  heartiness,  frugality,  and  industry  of  our  German  immi- 
grants, we  must,  yet  in  all  earnestness,  contend  against  the  ruinous 
delusions  to  which  many  of  these  recent  accessions  to  our  population 
have  yielded  themselves  as  respecting  the  Christian  Sabbath.  What 
they  denounce,  as  an  undemocratic  usurpation,  we  cherish,  as  an 
ancestral  freedom — one  of  the  corner-stones  of  Order,  Liberty,  and 
Morality.  We  Avelcome  the  new-comers,  but  it  is  not  Material- 
ism or  Pantheism  or  Anarchy  that  we  shall  consent  to  include  in  the 
Avelcome.  Baffled,  many  of  them  in  their  own  land,  why  should  they, 
the  defeated  revolutionists  of  that  country,  insist  on  recasting  the 
successful  revolution  effected  here  by  our  forefathers  ?  We  have 
tested  Liberty  for  well  nigh  a  century,  as  a  nation,  and  our  British 
forefathers  have  known  it  long  before.  And  the  Christian  Church 
has  enjoyed  the  Sabbath  for  eighteen  full  centuries.  Every  year  of 
our  national  existence  has  only  deepened  to  the  Christian  patriots  of 
these  shores,  their  conviction  that  the  disappearance  of  the  Christian 
Sabbath  would  carry  down  into  the  common  gulf  our  national  liber- 
ties, our  prosperity,  and  our  peace.  We  do  not,  therefore,  disguise 
the  sorrow  with  which  we  behold,  in  any  of  our  guests  from  the  Old 
World,  this  reckless  endeavor  to  hack  the  Ark  of  our  political  salva- 
tion into  the  kindling-wood  of  a  holiday  bonfire.  And  is  this  to  be, 
only  that  by  the  light  of  it,  men  may  guzzle  lager-beer,  gaze  on  frivo- 
lous or  profligate  spectacles,  and  listen  to  strains,  sensuous  at  best,  if 
not  basely  sensual  ?  American  Freedom  was  not  so  won :  and  Ave 
cannot  affect  indifference  in  seeing  it  so  lost. 

■  We  Avill  not  believe  that  our  magistracy  Avill,  to  purchase  votes, 
league  themselves  Avith  this  desecration.  If  they  do,  hoAvevcr,  Ave 
shall  not  despair ;  for  the  God  of  Providence  Avill  still  remain  Aviser 
than  all  tluiir  schemings,  and  mightier  than  all  their  alliances.  And 
Ave  trust  that,  under  His  potent  benediction,  the  Sabbath  Committee 
will  serenely,  strongly,  and  persistently,  urge  forward  their  holy  work. 


Sunday  Vice  and  Crime. 


The  morality  of  the  Sabbath  is  vindicated  "by  the  records  of 
crime  in  all  civilized  lands.  Justice  McLean,  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  expressed  a  truth  that  is  Illustrated  in  the 
experience  of  all  nations,  when  he  said,  "  Where  there  is  no  Chris- 
tian Sabbath,  there  is  no  Christian  morality :  and  without  this, 
free  government  cannot  long  be  sustained."  A  kindred  sentiment 
has  just  been  uttered  by  one  of  our  profound  thinkers  :  "  Every 
year  of  our  national  existence  has  only  deepened  to  the  Chris- 
tian patriots  of  these  shores  their  conviction  that  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  Christian  Sabbath  v,^ould  carry  down  into  the  common 
gulf  our  national  liberties,  our  prosperity,  and  our  peace.  We  do 
not,  therefore,  disguise  the  sorrow  with  which  we  behold,  in  any 
of  our  guests  from  the  Old  World,  this  reckless  endeavor  to  hack 
the  Ark  of  our  political  salvation  into  the  kindling-wood  of  a 
holiday  bonfire." 

The  condition  of  public  morals  in  Sabbath-breaking  countries 
may  serve  as  a  warning  for  us.  Thus,  the  fact  stated  by  the  Regis- 
trar-General of  Scotland  that  the  of&cial  records  of  Births  give 
but  -i  per  cent,  of  illegitimate  children  in  London ;  while  they  are 
82  per  cent,  in  Milan;  83  per  cent,  in  Paris;  85  in  Brussells;  48 
in  Munich  ;  and  51  in  Yienna; — or  an  average  of  almost  a  thou- 
sand -pex  cent,  greater  in  Sabbathless  than  in  Sabbath-keeping 
Capitals — would  seem  to  demonstrate  the  unquestionable  connec- 
tion of  two  of  the  vices  prohibited  in  the  moral  law. 

That  the  whole  catalogue  of  vices  and  crimes  which  infest 
society  are  similarly  associated,  though  in  various  degrees,  may 
be  inferred  from  the  statistics  of  crime,  and  the  observation  of 
Grand  Juries  and  Magistrates.     The  Police  returns  of  New  York 


2  SUNDAY  VICE   AND   CRIME. 

City  show  tliat  87  per  cent,  of  the  arrests  for  drunkenness  and 
crime  in  1858,  were  of  foreign-born  citizens — mostly,  it  is  believed, 
of  the  Sabbath- despising  classes  ;  whereas,  our  native-born  popula- 
tion exceeds  two-thirds  of  the  whole. 

It  also  appears  that  for  a  period  of  eighteen  months,  when  the 
Sunday  Liquor  traffic  was  unrestricted,  the  arrests  for  drunken- 
ness and  crime  on  Sundays  exceeded  those  on  Tuesdays  by  twenty- 
five  per  cent. :  but  since  the  first  of  August,  (a  period  of  seven 
montlis)  when  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police  ordered  the 
Sunday  Liquor  shops  to  be  closed,  the  average  arrests  for  crime 
on  Tuesdays  have  exceeded  those  on  Sundays  by  sixty  per  cent. 
— or  as  6,243  arrests  on  Tuesday,  to  3,961  on  Sunday — with  a 
rapidly  decreasing  average  on  all  other  days.  [The  total  falling 
off  of  arrests  for  the  quarter  ending  Feb.  1,  1860,  is  stated  by  the 
General  Superintendent  to  be  7,028,  as  compared  with  the  previous 
declining  quarter !] 

But  some  of  the  princij)al  sources  of  demoralization  are  still 
unchecked.  The  immense  Beer-Gardens  and  Theatres,  with  their 
multiplied  means  of  dissipation,  folly  and  vice,  are  yet  in  fall 
blast  on  every  Sunday — with  thousands,  if  not  tens  of  thousands, 
of  guests.  The  thin  disguise  of  "  Sacred  Concerts  "  is  thrown 
over  much  of  this  iniquity :  but  it  is  only  the  more  offensive  to 
good  citizens  and  seductive  to  bad  ones  by  the  suj)eradded  hypo- 
crisy of  a  "Sacred"  name  for  an  utterly  secular  and  profane  sys- 
tem of  Sunday  sports. 

Till  recently,  this  system  was  supposed  to  be  peculiar  to  a  part 
of  our  German  population ;  but  its  immunity  from  interruption  of 
Police  authorities,  and  its  profitableness,  have  prompted  its  intro- 
duction among  the  pastimes  of  our  native  population.  Many  large 
establishments  have  adopted  its  principal  features,  adding  others 
more  gross  and  corrupting  than  the  German  taste  would  tolerate. 
Besides  "a  double  orchestra  on  Sunday  Evening,"  and  every  va- 
riety of  stage  performances  extending  from  7  to  12  o'clock — with 
the  unconcealed  and  unrestricted  flow  of  all  kinds  of  liquors — 
^''Pretty  Waiter- Girls'^  in  large  numbers  mingle  with  the  guests,  who 
are  mostly  apprentices  and  homeless  lads,  to  drug  their  bodies  and 
.  souls,  and  to  stimulate  passions  that  the  Sabbath  and  the  Law  of 
God  were  made  to  curb  and  control. 

A  single  advertisement  of  one  of  these  establishments — by  no 
means  the  largest  or  most  seductive — will  show  the  unblushing 


SUNDAY  VICE  AND   CRIME. 


iniquity  of  the  American  Sunday  Rum-  Garden  System ;  and  may 
foreshadow  the  utter  overthrow  of  all  the  barriers  of  morality  and 
religion  when  a  continental  holiday-Sunday  shall  have  become 
naturalized,  instead  of  our  American  Sabbath. 


SUNDAY  "GAIETIES"   ON  BROADWAY. 

IFac  simile  of  Advertisement  in  the  Sunday  Herald,  Feb.  26,  I860.] 


600 


AMUSEMEIVTS. 

BKOADWAT.  600  BROADWAY. 

THE  GAIETIES. 

The 

GAIETIES, 

GAIETIES, 

No.  600  Broadway, 

No.  600  Broadway, 

THE  MODEL  CONCERT  ROOM 

THE  MODEL  CONCERT  ROOM 

OP  THE  WORLD, 

OP  THE  WORLD, 

IS  OPEN  EVERY  EVENING, 

IS  OPEN  EVERY  EVENING, 

■with  a  first  class  Company. 

OBSERVE. 
The  ladies  and  gentlemen  attached  to  the 
GAIETIES, 
are  engaged  on  the  score  of  ability  alone, 

without  regard  to  expense, 
and  form,  numerically,  individually  and  artisti- 
cally, 

THE  EXCELSIOR  COMPANY 
OP  THE  WORLD. 

SEE  THE  NAMES. 
JSIiss  CECILIA  MORLEY, 

the  only  really  artistic  Vocalist  in  the 

profession. 
Miss  L.  LEONORA, 

the  beautiful  and  accomplished  Danseusa. 
Miss  ADA  JOHNSON, 

the  pretty  Danseuse  and  Comedienne. 
Mr.  EDWARD  BERRY, 
the  acknowledged  best  comic  singer  in  America. 
Mr.  W.  SMITH, 

.the  best  bone  player  in  the  world  and  Ethiopian 

comedian. 
DICK  WATKINS, 
the  best  delineator  of  Dutch  eccentricity  ever 

seen. 
Mr.  R.  HART, 

the  popular  comedian  and  vocalist. 
Mons.  GREGOIRE, 
Mons.  GREGOIRE, 

the  modern  Hercules,  whose  astounding 
feats  of  strength  excite  the  wonder  of  all 
beholders. 
Messrs.  PRANK  WYANT, 
G.  WILSON, 
P.  LUSK, 
G.  A.  KELLY, 
H.  WOOD, 
T.  BAILEY, 
rand  others,  the  entire  company  numbering  over 

FORTY  PERP0RMER3. 
Who  appear  every  night  in  a  grand  miscellaneous 
■entertainment.     Also  a  select  and  appropriate 
Concert  everv 

SUNDAY  EVENING. 

SUNDAY  EVENING. 

On  which  occasion  a  Double  Orchestra  is  engag- 

•^ed,  under  the  able  direction  of  Prof.  Guseman. 

THE  YOUNG  LADIES 

THE  YOUNG  LADIES 

«who  attend  to  the  wants  of  visitors,  are  another 


attractive  feature  at  this  establishment;  their 
prepossessing  appearance  and  polite  and  affable 
behavior  is  acknowledged  by  all  visitors. 
Admission  only  13  cents. 
Miss  MORLEY  will  sing  the  "Dashing  White 
Sergeant,"  in  appropriate  costume,  every  even- 
ing this  week,  at  the  Gaities,  6U0  Broadway  ;  ad- 
mis.sion  12  cents. 

Misses  LEONORA  and  ADA  JOHNSON  will 
appear  in  beautiful  double  dances  e^ery  evening 
at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway,  a  few  dooi«  above 
Niblo's. 

EDWARD  BERRY,  the  best  Irish  comic 
singer  living,  will  sing  every  night  at  the 
Gaities,  600  Broadway,  a  few  doors  below  Laura 
Keene"s  theatre.    Admission  only  13  cents. 

The  Gaities,  600  Broadway,  is  the  only  place  of 
amusement  in  the  city  where  visitors  are  ac- 
commodated with  cushioned  sofa  seats,  ease  and 
elegance  combined,  at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broad- 
way. . 

W.  Smith  will  play  his  celebrated  "  Bone 

Fantasia." 

Gaieties  Concert  Room,  6no  Broadway. 

PRETTY  WAITl-P.  GIKLS. 

E.  Berry,  E.  Berry,  E.  Berry,  E.  Berry,  E.  Berry. 

Unparalleled  attraction  at  tlie  Gaieties. 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

Dick  Watkins,  Dick  Watkins,  Dick  Watkins 

Best  concert  hall  in  the  world. 

PRETTY  WAITKR  GIRLS. 

W.  N.  Smith,     W.  N.  Smith,    W.  N.  Smith, 

The  champion  bone  player  of  America. 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

He  can  be  seen  every  night  at  the  Gaieties. 

R.  Hart,    R.  Hart,    R.  Hart,    R.  Hart, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

the  eccentric  Ethiopian  comedian. 

Miss  Morley,      MissMorley,      Miss  Morley, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

justly  styled  the  American  nightingale. 

Addie  Johnson,  Addic  Johnson,  Addle  Johnson, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

the  beautiful  and  accomplished  danseuse. 

Mile.  Leonora,  Mile   Leonora,  Mile.  Leonora, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

the  charming  danseuse,  the  charming  danseuse. 

All  of  the  above  stars  and  others 

PRETTY  WAITKR  GIRLS. 

appear  at  the  Gaieties  every  night. 

This  is  the  only  place  in  New  York 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

where  you  can  enjoy  a  nice  sofa  seat 

and  see  one   of  the   best  performances 

FRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

ever  presented  to  a  New  York  audience. 

Good  music,  good  singing,  good  dancing 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

by  a  good  company,  every  night,  at  the  Gaieties. 

New  novelties  produced  in  rapid  succession 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway,  every  night. 

Fun  without  vulgarity.  Wit  and  Humor 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

characterize  the  performances  at  the  Gaieties. 

Dick  Watkins  will  unroll  his  budget  of 


SUNDAY   VICE   AND    CRIME. 


comicalities. 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaieties,  600  Droadway,  every  night. 

Bill  S-mith  will  give  you  the  original  Rob  Ridley 

PRETTV  "WAITER  GIRLS. 

every  night  at  the  Gaieties,  60i)  Broadway. 

Ed.  Berry  will  tell  you  about  Alonzo  &  Imogenc 

PRETTY  WA.ITER  GIRLS. 

Every  night  at  the  Gaieties,  60!'  Broadway. 

R.  Hart,  the  mirth-provoker  and  side-splitter, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

will  give  j'ou  his  new  songand  dance  everynight. 

Gaieties  Concert  Room.  600  Broadway. 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS, 

Polite  and  attentive  to  the  wants  of  visitors. 

In  active  rehearsal  and  will  soon  be  produced 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

an  entirely  new  and  original  Burlesque, 

written  bv  Mr.  Edward  I'erry,  expressly  for 

PRETTY  WAITER'GIRLS. 

the  Gaieties  Concert  Room,  600  Broadway. 

England,  Ireland,  Germany,  Scotland  and  Africa, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

every  night  at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway. 

The  Dutch  Duet,  with  Organ  accompaniment, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

every  night  at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway. 

.Miss  Morley  will  sing  the  song  of  the  Seventh, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

every  night  at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway. 

The  trials  and  misfortunes  of  Hans  Dookrich, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaieties  Concert  Room,  60(i  Broadway. 

The  Original  McDlll  Darrall  Brothers, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

by  the  two  Dromios,  W.  N.  Smith  and  R.  Hart. 

He  lo.st  his  pocket-book.  He  Did,     , 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

full  of  Gold   One   Dollar  Bills. 

The  Dutch  DriU-The  Dutch  Drill, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaities  Concert  Room,  every  nit'lit. 

ril  Sing  You  a  Song  Vat  You  All  would  Like  to 

Hear, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway,  every  night. 

Mv  Song  is  of  .1  Nice  Youns  Man, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

whose  name  was  I'oter  Gray. 

St.  Anthonv  Sat  on  a  Lowly  Stool, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

A  Large  Black  Book  He  Held  in  His  Hand. 

Dick  Darling,  the  Merry  Cobbler, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaities,  600  Broadway,  every  night. 

In  Dixi«"s  Land  I'll  Take  mv  Standi 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

I'll  Live  and  Die  in  Dixie. 

Double  orchestra,  double  orchestra,  double 

orchestra, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

at  the  Gaieties  Concert  Room,  GiO  Broadway. 


Prof.  Guseman. Leader:  Prof.  Gnsetnan,  Lcadc» 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
Of  the  double  overture,  of  the  double  overttire. 
Admission,  admission,  admission,  admission, 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
Admission,  admission,  admission. 
13  cts.     13  cts.    13  cts.     13  cts.     13  CENTS. 
PRETTY  AVAITER  GIRLS. 

13  cts.   13  cts.    13  cts.    18cta.r 
To  SCO  the  immense  entertainment 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
At  the  Gaieties  Concert  Room.  600  Broadway. 
Come,  come,  come.  come,  coirie,  come, 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
Come,  come,  come,  come,  come,  come- 
To  to  to  to  to  to  to  to  to  to  to  to 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

The  the  the  the  tlie  the  the  the- 
Gaieties.  Gaieties,  Gaieties,  Gaieties,  Gaieties, 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
Gaieties,  Gaieties,  Gaieties,  Gaieties, 

600  lOO  600  600  600  600 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
600  600  600  600  600  600  6ü0 

Broadway,  Broad^va}^  Broadway,  Broadway,. 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIR"LS. 
Broadway,  Broadway,  Broadway,  Broadway. 
The  elite  an!  bon  ton  of  societv 

PRETTY  AVAITER  GIRLS. 
visit  the  GAIETIES,  600  Broadway, 

and  all  say  it  is  the  best  place- 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
of  amusement  in  the  city. 
None  but  the  be.st  talent 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
are  engaged  at  the  Gaieties. 
Our  motto  is.  We  fear  no  Competitors, 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS, 
and  defy  all  imitators. 
Song  and  Chorus — Our  Union,  Rislit  or  Wrong,. 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 
is  sung  nightly  at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway. 
Let  those  lanch  who  never  laughe<l  before, 
PRETTY  AVAITER  GIRLS 
and  those  th.it  have,  now  laugh  the  more. 
Irrepressible  conflict  of  lanehter, 

PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS, 
for  which  there  is  no  help. 

If  you  come  once  j-ouwill  come  acais, 
PRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS, 
for  the  perfonnance  is  never  twica  tlic  samA 
A  varied  entt-rtainment  nishtly. 

BRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

At  the  Gaieties  things  are  conducted  riglitly. 

An  cthcient  officer  always  in  attendance. 

PRETl'Y  WAITER  GIRLS 

at  the  Gaieties,  600  Broadway. 

Sacred  Concert.   Sacre«!  Concert.  S.acred  Concert, 

BRETTY  WAITER  GIRLS. 

Sunday  evening,     .'-"unday  evening. 

Sunday  evening. 

Admission 18  cents- 


Defeat  of  the  Anti-Sunday  Law  Movement. 


Notices  of  Bills  for  the  repeal  of  laws  restraining  Sunday  Liquor 
selling  and  Sunday  theatricals,  were  given  in  both  Houses,  as  soon 
as  the  Legislature  of  ISGl  was  organized.  Petitions  were  pre- 
sented with  6,603  signatures  from  New  York,  and  1,160  from  Kings 
Count}' — about  half  as  many  as  there  are  of  dealers  in  liquor  and 
lager  in  those  cities.  But  a  comparison  of  881  names  on  the  New 
York  Petitions  with  the  City  Directory  (which  contains  150,803  names) 
showed  that  only  219  of  the  signers  were  registered  as  citizens,  of 
whom  94  were  dealers  in  liquor,  segars,  and  kindred  occupations,  in- 
terested in  Sunday  profits.  More  than  100  names  were  written  by  the 
same  hand  in  blue  ink. 

These  bills  and  memorials  were  inferred  to  the  Committee  on  Cities 
and  Villages,  a  majority  of  the  committee  representing  New  York  and 
Brooklyn.  After  several  hearings,  the  specific  action  pra_yed  for  failed 
to  receive  the  sanction  of  the  committee  :  but  a  majority  reported  a  bill 
exempting  "lager  beer, ale,  and  other  malt  liquors"  from  the  operation  of 
Excise  and  Sunday  Laws;  and  declaring  that  '"'•  the  sale  of  lager  })ee)\  ale  ^ 
and  all  other  malt  liquors  shall  henceforth  he  lawful  upon  any  day  of  the 
weekP  The  minority  of  the  Committee  thereupon  presented  the  following 
able  and  conclusive  Peport.  ILappily,  Mr.  Webster,  of  the  Sixth  As- 
sembly District,  N.  Y.,  brought  forward  his  pet  measure,  April  9,  and 
gave  the  House  an  opportunity  to  record  its  vote  in  reprobation  of  the 
Sunday  Beer  Garden  system.  Mr.  Webster's  Bill  was  laid  on  the 
taUe.  Ayes  70,  nays  23.  Of  the  negative  votes,  18  were  given  by 
members  from  New  York  and  vicinity. 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 
No.  114. 

IN  ASSEMBLY, 

March  25,  1861 


MINORITY  REPORT 

Of  the  Committee  on  the  incorporation  of  cities  and  villages 
relative  to  the  Sunday  liquor  law. 

The  undersigned,  a  minority  of  the  committee  on  the  incorpo^ 
ration  of  cities  and  villages,  to  which  was  referred  the  bill  enti- 
tled "  An  act  to  repeal  an  act  to  preserve  the  public  peace  and 
order  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  commonly  called  Sunday,"  and 
parts  of  other  acts  referring  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  on 
that  day,  and  the  several  petitions  accompanying  the  same,  have 
not  been  able  to  reach  the  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the  majority 
of  the  said  committee,  in  reporting  the  bill  entitled  "An  act  to 
amend  the  laws  of  this  State  in  relation  to  the  sale  of  liquors," 
and  ask  leave  to  present  the  following 

REPORT : 

That  the  bill  introduced  by  the  majority  of  the  committee, 
while  it  applies  to  the  whole  State,  and  is  intended  to  legalize 
everywhere  within  its  jurisdiction  the  sale  of  "  lager  beer,  ale, 
and  all  other  malt  liquors"  on  Sunday,  is  specially  designed  to  re- 
open the  theaters,  and  legalize  the  beer  gardens,  and  lager  saloons 
of  New  York  city  to  the  German  population,  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  in  practices  and  amusements  incompatible  with  a  quiet 
and  profitable  observance  of  the  day,  and  only  known  or  tolerated 
in  the  most  immoral  cities  of  Continental  Europe. 

The  fact  that  distilled  liquors  are  not  included,  does  not  change 
the  character  of  the  bill,  nor  les.sen  the  objections  to  its  passage. 
The  practice  of  adulterating  the  commonest  drinks  with  stimulating 
and  deadly  compounds,  gives  to  the  beer  drinker  the  means  of  grati- 

( Assembly,  No.  114. J  1      " 


2  [Assembly 

fying,  to  tlic  fullest  extent,  his  depraved  tastes;  the  flood-gates 
of  intoxication,  immorality  and  vice  -will  be  opened,  and  the 
Christian  Sabbath  be  degraded  to  a  Pagan  holiday  if  the  beer 
garden  shall  become  an  American  institution,  and  the  sale  of 
malt  liquors  therein  on  Sunday,  be  authorized  and  protected  by 
law. 

Besides,  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in  the  case  of  the  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Excise  of  Tompkins  county,  against  James  B.  Tay- 
lor and  John  C.  McWhorter,  submitted  Jan,  11,  18G0,  at  Albany, 
decided  that  strong  beer  is  within  the  meaning  of  the  terms  "  strong 
and  spiritous  liquors,"  in  statute,  chap.  628,  of  1857,  to  suppress 
intemperance.  , 

The  following  extract  from  the  opinion  of  Welles,  J.,  shows  the 
light  in  which  the  sale  of  strong  beer  upon  any  day  is  regarded  by 
that  court  : 

"  Now,  that  ale,  strong  beer,  porter,  and  most  of  the  fermented 
drinks  known  in  this  country,  and  Avhich  are  sold  at  public  houses 
and  groceries  by  the  drink,  can  and  do  produce  intoxication  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent,  and  that  such  is  the  ordinary  eifect  of  their 
use  as  a  beverage,  no  man  of  mature  years,  who  is  not  stiangely 
oblivious  to  surrounding  and  passing  events,  can  have  failed  to 
observe.  The  fact  is  so  patent  that  it  is  impossible  to  close  our 
eyes  against  it.  There  is,  in  my  opinion,  one  aspect  in  which  the 
unrestiained  sale  of  such  liquors  by  the  drink  is  far  more  injuri- 
ous than  that  of  distilled  liquors.  I  allude  to  the  temptation  it 
presents  to  the  reformed  or  reforming  inebriate,  who  will  much 
more  readily  yield  to  a  draught  of  the  former  than  of  the  latter, 
and  thus  fall  a  hopeless  victim  to  the  appetite  which  he  had  Avell- 
nigh  conquered." 

Any  conversion  of  Sunday  to  the  purposes  of  traflSc,  or  to 
amusements  that  interfere  Avith  the  rest  and  worship  to  Avhich 
the  day  has  been  devoted  throughout  most  of  the  civilized  world, 
is  especially  distasteful  to  the  people  of  this  State,  and  opposed  to 
the  spirit  of  American  institutions  and  laws. 

The  history  of  our  legislation  for  the  protection  of  the  civil 
Sabbath  dates  back  to  the  earliest  period  of  the  Dutch  colony  of 
New  Amsterdam.  The  decrees  of  Peter  Stuyvesant  in  1647  '48; 
"the  conditions  of  the  Burgomasters  of  Amsterdam  in  1656;  the 
laws  of  the  Duke  of  York  in. 1664;  the  charter  of  liberties  in 
1683;  the  colonial  statute  of  1695,  in  force  Avhen  our  State  con- 
stitution was  adopted  in  1777;  the  State  law  of  1788,  and  the 
Revised  Statutes  of  1813  and  1836,  are  all  concurrent  in  their 
provisions  for  the  conservjjtion  of  a  day  of  rest  9.nd  worship,  and 


No.  114.J  3 

their  prohibition  of  demoralizing  traffic  and  pastimes.  Some  of 
the  colonial  acts  fail  to  discriminate  as  to  the  just  limitations  of 
the  civil  Sabbath,  but  those  of  recent  enactment  aim  solely  to 
secure  to  all  classes,  and  especially  to  laboring  men,  their  inaliena- 
ble right  to  a  weekly  season  of  repose  ;  to  the  religiously  inclined 
an  opportunity  for  undisturbed  devotions,  and  to  the  whole  com- 
munity the  withdrawal  of  temptation  to  dissipation,  vice  and 
crime,  so  that  the  period  of  recreation  may  not  be  perverted  from 
its  beneficent  design  into  a  scandal  and  a  curse. 

These  laws  have  been  self-imposed,  impartial,  and  consistent 
with  the  genius  of  our  free  institutions.  They  are  humane  in 
their  bearing  on  the  poor,  just  in  their  constraint  of  self-cupidity, 
and  indispensable  as  a  guard  for  public  morals.  They  tend  to 
promote  the  health,  wealth  and  virtue  of  the  people;  they  foster 
the  spirit  of  reflection,  self-control,  and  conscientiousness  which 
befit  republican  freemen  :  and  they  strengthen  the  basis  of  our  self- 
governing  institutions,  for,  says  Justice  McLean,  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  "where  there  is  no  Christian  Sabbath, 
there  is  no  Christian  morality,  and  without  this,  free  government 
cannot  long  be  sustained."  To  the  same  effect  is  Washington's 
farewell  counsel  to  his  countrymen  ;  "  of  all  dispositions  and  habits 
which  lead  to  political  prosperity,  religion  and  morality  are  indis- 
pensable supports.  In  vain  would  that  man  claim  the  tribute  of 
patriotism  -who  should  labor  to  subvert  these  great  pillars  of  hu- 
man happiness,  these  firmest  props  of  the  duties  of  men  and 
citizens." 

Tlie  present  Sunday  laws  are  i-epresented  by  those  who  petition 
for  their  repeal  "■  as  a  source  of  great  grievance,"  though  it  is  not 
stated  on  whom  the  "grievance"  falls,  nor  what  its  nature  is.  If 
it  affects  the  pocket,  it  is  a  "grievance  "  common  to  all  traffic  and 
professions,  and  forms  a  part  of  the  self-imposed  contributions 
made  by  good  citizens  to  public  and  social  order  and  the  general 
good.  If  it  falls  alone  upon  the  dealers  in  liquors,  and  the  keep- 
ers of  concert  halls  and  theatres,  their  complaint  would  be  en- 
titled to  more  consideration  Avere  it  not  notorious  that  most  of 
these  parties  have  been  in  the  attitude  of  open  and  combined  re- 
sistance against  all  the  laws  of  the  State  affecting  their  interests, 
on  all  days  of  the  week]  and  that  their  avocation  stands  in  the 
unhappy  relation  of  the  demonstrated  cause  of  a  sad  proportion 
of  the  pauperism,  taxation  and  crime  of  the  State. 

But  it  is  from  the  city  of  New  York  that  the  demand  is  made 


4  [Assembly 

for  abrogating  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  Sunday  laws.  The 
histor}^  and  results  of  the  operation  of  these  laws  will  throw  some 
light  on  the  question  of  repealing  them. 

Owing  to  various  causes,  the  safeguards  of  the  Sabbath  became 
inoperative,  and  a  rapid  declension  in  public  order  and  morals  on 
that,  as  on  other  days,  took  place.  From  the  period,  thirty  years 
since,  when  no  police  was  needed  or  kept  on  Sunday,  the  degen- 
eracy became  so  considerable  as  to  involve  a  large  excess  of 
drunkenness  and  crime  on  that  day  above  the  other  days  of  the 
week;  thousands  of  dram  shops  disobeying  by  common  consent 
the  law  requiring  a  license  for  their  trallic  on  all  days,  took 
8peci0.1  license  to  drng  the  people  on  the  Lord's  day.  Scores  of 
theatres  and  beer  gardens,  scarcely  self-supporting  on  week  days, 
were  crowded  and  profitable  on  Sunday.  "Concert  halls-'  and 
saloons  in  the  most  prominent  thorfughfares  of  the  city,  attracted 
thoughtless  youths  by  scandalous  songs,  dances  and  plays,  and  by 
flaring  advertisements  of  "Pretty  waiter  girls" — women  of  the 
town,  publicly  kept  and  advertised.  The  system  was  a  disgrace 
to  civilization  and  a  mockery  to  virtue  and  religion. 

The  moral  sense  of  the  community  was  justly  shocked,  and 
the  apprehensions  of  right-minded  citizens  found  varied  expres- 
sion. Successive  grand  juries  exposed  and  reprobated  these 
shameless  evils.  The  public  press,  of  every  shade  of  political 
sentiment,  with  great  ability  and  firmness  discussed  its  enormity. 
Public  sentiment  evidently  demanded  its  suppression.  Two  years 
ago  a  memorial  was  addressed  to  the  Metropolitan  Police  Com- 
missioners, signed  by  about  six  hundred  of  the  best  known  and 
most  influential  of  the  tax-payers  of  New  York,  demanding  pro- 
tection and  relief  from  the  demoralizing  influence  of  the  Sunday 
liquor  traffic,  setting  forth,  among  other  things,  the  alarming  fact 
that  by  the  record  of  their  own  department,  the  arrests  for  drunk- 
enness and  crime  during  the  preceding  eighteen  months  had  been 
twenty-five  per  cent,  greater  on  Sunday  than  on  other  days  of  the 
week,  and  charging  this  excess  to  the  traffic  in  question.  The 
Commissioners  unanimously  resolved  :  "  That  present  abuses  in 
disregarding  the  Sunday  law,  particularly  in  public  exhibitions 
on  Sunday,  and  trafficing  in  liquors  and  other  things,  should,  as 
far  as  the  law  allows,  be  prevented  by  the  whole  power  of  the 
police  force  and  of  the  magistracy."  A  month  later  (August, 
1859,)  the  general  superintendent  issued  a  general  order  to  the 
above  effect,  and  the  attention  of  the  department  has  since  been 


No.  104.J  5 

directed  to  the  suppression  of  that  evil.  The  open  traffic  has 
nearly  ceased,  and  sufficient  time  has  now  elapsed  to  test  the 
extent  of  the  "grievance"  to  tlie  community  at  large,  and  to  the 
interests  of  public  morals. 

The  result,  so  far  as  the  statistical  records  of  the  police  de- 
partment are  concerned,  may  be  given  in  few  words :  During  the 
eighteen  months  from  August  1,  1859,  to  February  1,  1860,  the 
total  number  of  arrests  on  Tuesdays — taken  as  the  average  of  the 
week  days — has  been  15,503,  and  for  the  Sundays  of  the  same 
period  10,483,  showing  an  excess  of  arrests  on  Tuesdays  over 
Sundays  of  5,020,  or  nearly  fifty  per  cent.  But  had  the  ratio 
continued  the  same  as  during  the  period  of  uninterrupted  liquor 
sales  on  Sunday,  the  arrests  on  Sunday  would  have  been  19,137, 
showing  a  relative  gain  by  the  enforcement  of  the  Sunday  liquor 
law  of  nearly  ninety  'per  cent.,  or  as  19,137  to  10,483.  Is  that  a 
"  great  grievance  "?  To  whom?  Not  to  the  police  or  the  ma- 
gistracy, or  the  tax-payers,  or  the  home  circle,  or  the  public  ? 
To  whom  then  ? 

If  it  be  a  "  grievance"  that  the  hard  earnings  of  poor  Germans 
and  others  are  retained  in  their  pockets  to  support  their  house- 
holds during  a'winter  of  want,  instead  of  passing  through  their 
eyes  or  their  throats  into  the  purses  of  theatre  keepers  and  lager 
bier  brewers,  it  is  one  of  which  they,  much  less  their  wives  and 
children,  do  not  complain;  and  it  is  not  apparent  that  complaints 
from  their  tempters  to  folly  and  drunkenness  should  affect  the 
legislation  of  the -State. 

We  are  not  unaware  that  the  laws  complained  of  seem  to  a 
portion  of  our  citizens  who  have  come  to  us  from  continental 
Europe  as  interfering  with  the  Sunday  pastime  to  which  they 
have  been  accustomed,  and  some  sympathy  undoubtedly  exists 
among  a  part  of  our  people  with  the  idea  of  a  holiday  observance 
of  Sunday.  We  have  nothing  to  do  with  differing  views  as  to 
the  theory  of  the  Sabbath.  It  is  enough  that  by  immemorial  law 
and  usage,  and  general  popular  conviction,  our  civil  Sabbath  is 
so  fixed  as  an  institution  of  the  State  and  of  tJie  countr}^,  as  to 
impress  every  observant  foreigner.  Every  European  book  of 
American  travels  recognizes  the  fact.  An  eminent  French  resi- 
dent (Duponceau)  once  asserted,  that  "  of  all  we  claimed  as  char- 
acteristic, our  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  only  one  truly 
national  and  American,  and  for  this  cause  if  for  no  other,  he 
trusted  it  would  never  lose  its  hold  on  our  affections  and  patriot- 


6  [Assembly 

ism."  This  view  strips  lawless  invasions  of  our  customs  and  con- 
victions in  this  behalf  of  all  apology  or  defence.  Emigrants  from 
other  lands  knew,  or  might  have  known,  that  our  Sunday  is  kept 
as  a  day  of  rest  and  worship,  and  that  the  pastimes  of  Paris  or 
Vienna  are  not  tolerated  here.  We  open  our  doors  to  all  comers 
to  the  fullest  enjoyment  of  all  the  liberties  enjoyed  by  our  own 
citizens — all  that  consist  with  the  safe  working  of  a  free  govern- 
ment. But  vices  and  habits  which  we  have  found  necessaiy  to 
restrain  in  ourselves,  we  cannot  consent  to  legalize  for  others. 

It  is  not  true,  however,  that  the  German  population  is  a  unit 
on  this  question.  To  the  lasting  exaltation  of  the  German  char- 
acter, thousands  and  thousands  of  emigrants,  while  their  hearts 
swell  with  loyalty  and  love  as  they  recall  the  memories  and 
recount  the  history  of  their  fatherland,  have  left  behind  them  the 
habits  and  the  amusements  which  another  age  engrafted  upon 
the  sturdy  virtues  which  form  the  basis  of  the  German  charac- 
ter. 

These  men,  upon  reaching  our  shores,  and  assuming  the  duties 
and  responsibilities  of  American  citizens,  place  themselves  volun- 
tarily under  the  restraints  and  within  the  protection  of  our  laws, 
and  seek  to  secure  to  themselves  and  the  whole  German  popula- 
tion the  blessings  of  a  higher  civilization,  by  sustaining  those  civil 
institutions  which  protect  the  people  from  the  assaults  of  licen- 
tiousness and  crime. 

These  men  constitute  to-day  a  large  portion  of  the  German  popu- 
lation of  New  York,  and  they  are  daily  making  converts  to  the 
cause  of  temperance  and  morality,  and  the  strict  observance  of 
the  Sunday  laws;  a  portion  of  which  the  bill  reported  proposes  to 

repeal. 

These  men  are  establishing  libraries,  founding  schools,  building 
churches,  and  have  entered  into  the  work  of  human  reformation 
and  improvement  with  an  earnestness  which  has  already  met  its 
reward,  and  which  promises  the  most  distinguishing  success.  The 
principal  opposition  to  their  benevolent  efforts  is  made  by  those 
who  wish  to  plant  in  the  soil  of  freedom,  and  in  the  sunshine  of 
public  favor,  vices  which  once  rooted,  only  the  strong  arm  of 
absolute  power  can  prevent  from  overrunning  the  land. 

The  repeal  of  any  portion  of  the  Sunday  laws,  whereby  beer 
gardens  and  lagw  saloons  may  be  legalized  on  that  day,  would  be 
an  act  of  injustice  to  the  men  who  are  endeavoring  to  win  their 
countrymen  from  the  Sunday  pastimes  to  which  they  have  been 


No.  114.J  7 

accustomed,  and  enlist  them  in  the  support  of  those  institutions 
of  learning  and  religion  which  exalt  the  race,  and  constitute  the 
glory  of  the  present  century. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  all  those  branches  of  trade  which  remain 
under  the  restriction  of  Sunday  laws.  "  If  a  few  establishments, 
or  a  privileged  traffic,  may  profit  by  the  general  suspension  of 
business, — perverting  the  very  restraints  by  which  morality  and 
religion  hold  back  the  masses  from  labor  into  a  source  of  pecuni- 
ary advantage  to  themselv^es — it  is  easy  to  see  that  injustice  is 
d'one  to  the  mass  of  good  citizens  who  yield  obedience  to  law. 
Competition  may  drive  others  to  engage  in  Sunday  trading,  until 
the  Sabbath  itself  is  obliterated,  and  all  protection  of  the  rights  of 
the  laboring  classes  to  a  season  of  rest  and  devotion  shall  be  swept 
away. 

•'  On  what  ground  then  shall  the  traffic  in  beer,  with  noisy  and 
immoral  accompaniments,  claim  a  practical  and  recognized  ex- 
emption from  the  operation  of  these  laws,  and  a  virtual  monopoly 
of  Sunday  trade?  Was  it  in  the  interest  of  lager-beer  dealers 
that  the  laws  of  the  Republic  caused  the  wheels  of  commerce  to 
cease  rolling,  and  all  branches  of  human  industry  to  suspend  their 
activities,  one-seventh  part  of  each  week?" 

It  would  be  unjust  to  all  those  cities  in  which  the  presence  of 
policemen  are  necessary  to  keep  the  peace,  preserve  order,  and 
prevent  the  violation  of  city  laws  and  ordinances;  because  an 
extra  force  and  greater  vigilance  are  found  to  be  necessary  on 
those  days  when  the  people,  released  from  the  restraints  of  labor, 
are  more  prone  to  indulge  in  immoral  pastimes  and  guilty  plea- 
sures. On  those  days,  therefore,  if  on  no  other,  the  temptation 
to  evil  should  be  withdrawn,  and  the  steps  of  the  thoughtless  and 
unwary  be  protected  by  all  the  safeguards  which  law  can  throw 
around  them. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  the  people  of  the  rural  districts,  none  of 
Avhom  desire  this  change  in  the  Sunday  laws,  and  all  of  whom  are 
in  favor  of  devoting  the  civil  Sabbath  to  rest  and  worship. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  the  Christian  members  of  the  community 
whose  worship  would  be  disturbed  and  feelings  outraged  if  this 
demoralizing  trafiic  shall  be  permitted  on  a  day  consecrated  to 
the  service  of  their  Lord  and  Master. 

In  view,  then,  of  the  fact  that  the  repeal  of  any  portion  of  the 
laws  in  question  would  involve  a  departure  from  the  legislative 
policy  of  this  commonwealth  for  more  than  two  centuries  ;  that  it 


8  [Assembly 

would  contravene  the  known  convictions  of  the  great  body  of  good 

citizens  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  as  it  would  be  abhorrent  to  the 

moral  sense  of  the  entire  Christian  community;  that  it  would 

encourage  a  spirit  of  lawlessness,  immorality  and  vice  ;  that  it 

would  remove  the  barriers  protecting  the  laboring  poor  from  their 

tempters  to  drunkenness  and  folly,  and  that  it  would  arrest  the 

progress  of  reform  in  manners  and  morals  which  has  inspired  hope 

for   the  metropolis    throughout    the  civilized  world — we  submit 

that  the  bill  reported  by  the  majority  of  the  committee  ought  not 

to  pass. 

L.  CHANDLER  BALL, 

H.  A.  PRENDERGAST, 

WILKES  ANGEL. 


